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I 


THE RED CROSS GIRLS IN 

BELGIUM 




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“ Lieutenant Hume 1” 


{See page ii?-) 





The Red Cross Girls 
in Belgium 


MARGARET VANDERCOOK 

Author of “The Ranch Girls Series*” “Stories 
about Camp Fire Girls Series,” etc. 

miuetratct) 


The John C. Winston Company 

Philadelphia 


te- /‘pZGt 



Copyright, 1916, by 
The John C. Winston Co, 


JAN -8 1917 

©CI..A455053 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER page 

I. Under Other Skies 7 

II. A Modern Knight Errant 23 

III. A Secret Mission 35 

IV. Plans for the Future 47 

V. St. Gudula 58 

VI. The Locked Door 69 

VII. A Triangle 83 

VIII. A Prison and a Prisoner 97 

IX. A Second Acquaintance 110 

X. A Discussion, not an Argument... 121 

XL Monsieur Bebe 131 

XII. The Ghost 144 

XIII. An Arrest 157 

XIV. A Month Later 174 

XV. Powerless 185 

XVI. Louvain 200 

XVII. “Sisters Under the Skin” 215 

XVIII. Difficulties 227 

XIX. En Route 241 

XX. Noel 258 


( 5 ) 



THE RED CROSS GIRLS 
IN BELGIUM 


CHAPTER I 
Under Other Skies 

”~TER six months of nursing in the 



British trenches the four American 


^ Red Cross girls were Inspired to 
offer their services to the French soldiers. 
An autumn and a winter they spent together 
in southern France, keeping house in the 
little French ‘‘Farmhouse with the Blue 
Front Door.” 

Here the girls were so interested and so 
happy that for a little time they almost 
forgot the tragedies near at hand. 

During the first months there had come 
a lull in the fighting along the borders of 
Alsace-Lorraine, where the American girls 
were now stationed. So they had oppor- 


( 7 ) 


8 


In Belgium 


tunity for enjoying the fragrant woods, 
‘‘the pool of Melisande” and the romantic 
atmosphere of the French country. 

Their farmhouse was close upon the 
borders of an old chateau and belonged to 
its owner, the Countess Castaigne. After 
a slight misunderstanding a friendship de- 
velops between the old Countess and three 
out of the four American girls. And here 
in the dignified old Louis XIV drawing 
room they meet for the second time young 
Captain Henri Castaigne, whom in Paris 
they had seen decorated with the Cross of 
the Legion of Honor. 

But between Eugenia Peabody, the New 
England girl who confesses herself to have 
been born an' “old maid,” and the gifted 
young Frenchman, there seems to be an im- 
mediate antagonism. Nevertheless, when 
the Germans finally surprise the French by 
an unexpected attack during the French 
retreat, it is Eugenia who alone rescued and 
cared for the wounded young officer. The 
other girls, with the Countess Amelie, join 
the French army in their new position. 
Later, when the French retake their old 


Under Other Skies 


9 


trenches, they return to the former neigh- 
borhood. 

But for weeks Eugenia has devoted her- 
self to concealing Captain Castaigne from 
the Germans and to nursing him back to 
health. Naturally at the end of this time 
a change in their relations has taken place. 
Captain Castaigne has developed a deep 
affection for Eugenia. But it is difficult 
to understand her attitude toward him. 

In any case, she makes up her mind that 
it is wiser for the four American Red Cross 
girls again to change their field of labor. 
So at the close of the story of ‘‘The Red 
Cross Girls on the French Firing Line,” 
they have decided to leave for Belgium. 


“We simply must get into Brussels 
some time this afternoon,” Barbara Meade 
declared. She was wearing her nurse’s 
uniform and her manner and expression 
were more than ordinarily professional. 

About ten days before the four American 
Red Cross girls had arrived in Belgium. 

They were now seated on piles of loose 


10 


In Belgium 


brick and stone looking out toward a bril- 
liant sunset. Before them the land lay 
bleak and desolate, while a half-burned 
house formed their background. 

Nevertheless, as it was early summer 
time, tiny blades of green were peeping 
up from the dry stubble. On the single 
apple tree that had been left standing in 
a once comfortable orchard, a few apples 
at the top were slowly ripening. Except 
for this there were few other signs of sum- 
mer’s fulfilment. 

In response to Barbara’s speech Eugenia 
Peabody now shook her head with her 
usual decision. 

‘‘Sorry, but I can’t go with you,” she 
answered abruptly. “I have something 
more important to do. Tell them at the 
headquarters I’ll try and come another 
day.” 

Then without glancing at any one, 
Eugenia rose and stalked away. She 
walked toward a small one-room cottage 
at some distance behind the ruined house. 
There she stood with her hands clasped 
before her. The place was utterly still 


Under Other Skies 


11 


and deserted. Yet it was difficult to tell 
whether Eugenia was listening for some 
unusual sound, or whether she was think- 
ing upon a subject hundreds of miles from 
the present scene. 

The girls were living in a big house a 
few miles outside of Brussels. This was 
only a temporary arrangement, as they 
had not yet received their orders for work 
from the Belgian Red Cross headquarters. 

Barbara at this moment dug her shoe 
reflectively into the soft earth, in the 
meanwhile staring after her friend. 

‘‘Do you know, girls, Eugenia Peabody 
has become a mystery to me lately? When 
we started off on our expedition to Europe 
together, I thought I understood her char- 
acter better than either of you. Now I 
simply don’t see through her at all!” 

-Barbara frowned meditatively. 

“Here she has been an heiress all this 
time, much richer even than Mildred Thorn- 
ton, when we believed her as poor as a church 
mouse! But how could any human being 
have suspected Eugenia of riches when she 
wore such dreadful clothes?” 


12 


In Belgium 


So plaintively did Barbara conclude her 
speech that her two companions laughed. 
Since arriving in tragic little Belgium they 
had not been able to laugh frequently. 
But being only girls they welcomed every 
opportunity. 

Nona nodded agreement with her friend’s 
point of view. The next moment she 
turned from one to the other of them. 
Her expression had grown more serious. 

‘‘We were hurt with Eugenia for not 
taking us into her confidence sooner, weren’t 
we?” she remarked, not so much in the 
manner of asking a question as of making 
a statement. 

If there had not been a rose-colored 
light on her face from the sunset Nona 
would seem to have flushed at this instant. 

“I was wounded,” she went on, “even 
though Eugenia explained that she had 
not meant to deceive us. She grew up 
very poor and when an old bachelor uncle 
left her a fortune she never learned how 
to spend her money because of her frugal 
New England training.” 

“Well, she is learning to spend it on 


Under Other Skies 


13 


other people now,” Mildred Thornton in- 
terrupted. ‘‘It seems tremendously kind 
for Eugenia to have brought the little 
French girl, Nicolete, over to Belgium 
with us. She really shocks Eugenia every 
five minutes in the day, but I suppose 
Gene is trying to turn the child into a 
Puritan. Really, she had no reason in the 
world for being interested in Nicolete except 
that she was helpful when Captain Cas- 
taigne was ill. Then I presume Eugenia 
felt she might get into trouble with no one 
to look after her, as she would spend her 
time amusing the French soldiers.” 

“Mildred!” Barbara Meade whispered, 
“do be more careful. You know we prom- 
ised to say nothing of Nicolete’s French 
origin. She would never have been allowed 
to come into Belgium if her nationality 
had been known. And Eugenia is dread- 
fully nervous for fear the child may be 
suspected as a spy. No one is too young 
to escape suspicion these days!” 

Barbara made this speech in hushed tones 
all the time looking carefully about her. 

The countryside was for the time being 


14 


In Belgium 


deserted, but at any moment a group of 
German soldiers might pass by on the way 
to their barracks. A well-traveled road 
ran along in front of the place where the 
Red Cross girls were seated. 

About an hour before they had come out 
together for, a walk before dinner and were 
now resting on their journey back to their 
new Belgian headquarters. 

At this moment Nona Davis got up and 
stood facing her other two friends. 

“I have something to tell you,” she 
began, ‘‘and I expect I had best not put 
it off any longer. I had it in mind when 
I spoke of Eugenia’s secrecy, for you see 
we have all grown so intimate that we are 
almost like sisters. I — I too have a con- 
fession to make. I tried to tell you when 
we were crossing on the steamer together. 
Then it seemed to me I had no right to 
think you would be interested, and prob- 
ably you won’t be interested now.” 

Barbara was leaning her rounded chin 
on her hand. Mildred’s lips were parted 
and her breath coming a little quicker by 
reason of her interest. 


Under Other Skies 


15 


For she and Barbara both recalled Nona 
Davis’ previous hesitation when talking of 
herself. They only knew a few facts con- 
cerning her history. She had been brought 
up by her father, an old southern soldier, 
in the city of Charleston, South Carolina. 
She had led a very lonely, secluded life. 
These were all their facts. 

But since Nona was still hesitating Bar- 
bara smiled at her, wrinkling up her small 
nose in the absurd fashion she had when 
particularly in earnest. 

‘‘Go on, Nona, tell us at once. Are 
you a princess in disguise? I am quite 
prepared to believe it. To tell you the 
honest truth, it would not surprise me half 
so much as Eugenia’s turning into an heiress. 
Alas, that I am what I am, a maid without 
a mystery!” 

However, Nona was not in the humor 
to be diverted by her friend’s nonsense. 

“I am sorry my story is not in the least 
like that. So I am afraid it won’t be of 
interest to you. Perhaps I am foolish to 
speak of this, since I have never, never 
talked of it to any one before.” 


16 


In Belgium 


Nona’s brown eyes were clear and 
straightforward, although her chin quiv- 
ered sensitively. 

‘‘I know nothing about my mother,” 
she went on speaking quickly, now that 
she had made up her mind to the con- 
fidence. ‘‘Of course, I remember her 
when I was a very little girl in our old 
house in Charleston. But after she went 
away my father would never talk of her 
nor answer any of my questions. I do 
know, however, that she was a great deal 
younger than he, and I think she was 
French and came from New Orleans. There 
must have been something strange about 
my mother or her family; I never could 
decide and no one would ever tell me. 
Even after I grew up and asked questions 
of my father’s old friends there was always 
the same silence. This was one of the 
reasons why I made up my mind to come 
away from Charleston,” Nona finished 
quietly. 

She had not been tragic or dramatic 
in the telling of her story, and yet neither 
of her two girl friends knew exactly what 
to answer. 


Under Other Skies 


17 


But since the silence must somehow be 
broken, Mildred Thornton murmured, 
“How very odd; perhaps you are mis- 
taken, Nona!” Then she realized that 
she had made an absurd speech. 

Barbara was even more visibly embar- 
rassed. “Possibly your mother was a 
princess or something!” she ejaculated 
vaguely. “I always insisted that you were 
one of the most aristocratic persons I ever 
knew, both in your appearance and manner, 
Nona,” her friend continued, desiring to be 
comforting and yet appreciating that her 
remarks were also rather ridiculous. 

Nona, however, was not to be turned 
aside in her confession. 

“I have only spoken of this because I 
wanted you girls to know the facts in my 
life that are important. Of course, I 
realize this problem of mine cannot mean 
a great deal to you. But it has puzzled 
me all my life. You see, I don’t even 
know whether my mother is living or dead. 
I have supposed that she was dead, and 
my father always talked as if she were; 
but I really am not sure of even that.” 


18 


In Belgium 


Nona then extended a hand to each of 
her friends. 

‘‘Please let us never speak of this again,” 
she asked. “Of course, I mean to tell 
Eugenia, for it was because we were hurt 
by her lack of confidence in us that I 
nerved myself for my confession.” 

Nona then sat down again as if the entire 
subject were closed forever. 

So, although the other girls had dozens 
of questions at the tips of their tongues, 
they remained politely silent. 

In order to conceal her embarrassment 
Mildred Thornton glanced around to try 
to find Eugenia. She discovered that the 
older girl had at last been disturbed from 
her reverie. Indeed, she had risen and was 
walking toward the road. For a noise 
with which they had grown familiar in the 
past fifteen months was drawing nearer 
and nearer. It was the tramping of 
soldiers’ feet. 

But this time there was a sound accom- 
panying it which was even more disturbing. 

The other girls heard the same sound 
and almost at the same time jumped up 


Under Other Skies 


19 


from their seats. They went a few paces 
forward and then stopped and stared. 

A number of German soldiers were driv- 
ing a group of Belgian people before them 
like so many sheep. There were two old 
men and two middle-aged women with 
several small children. 

Running further forward, Barbara slipped 
her arm inside Eugenia’s. 

‘‘What does this mean.^” she queried, 
her eyes suddenly blurring with tears. 

Yet she realized that the prisoners had 
probably been disloyal to their conquerors. 
They may have refused to obey the rules 
imposed by the German military com- 
mander of their district; they may have 
stolen food, or been insolent to the soldiers. 

Although she appreciated their possible 
offences, Barbara felt deeply sympathetic. 

For the past year and more she had 
been witnessing the suffering of the wounded 
soldiers in the British and French lines. 
She had thought that nothing else could 
ever touch her so deeply. Yet in the last 
ten days she had been stirred in a different 
way. The soldiers were fighting for the 


20 


In Belgium 


cause nearest their hearts and enjoyed the 
enthusiasm and the glory of the soldier’s 
life. But in Belgium so many of the people 
appeared both helpless and hopeless; these 
were the old men, the women and the 
children. 

Barbara was thinking of this now as 
she watched the pitiful little company 
before her. She had not even noticed 
that Eugenia had made her no answer. 
Now she was startled because the older 
girl had broken loose from her and was 
stalking out into the road. 

Barbara was next amazed to see Eugenia 
deliberately plant herself in front of the 
German officer in command. 

She spoke excellent German, knowing 
more of the language than any one of the 
four Red Cross girls. Now Barbara could 
only guess what Eugenia was saying. But 
whatever it was, the German sergeant had 
stopped and was apparently listening re- 
spectfully. There must have been some- 
thing impressive in her voice and manner. 

Three minutes afterwards the other three 
girls were the more surprised to observe 


Under Other Skies 


21 


Eugenia returning toward them. Because 
in her arms she was carrying a tiny, black- 
eyed baby, while a small boy and a small 
girl clung to either side of her skirt. The 
boy was about nine or ten years old and 
was lame. 

“Why, what does this mean, Eugenia.^’’ 
Nona demanded, dropping on her knees to 
take the boy’s small, cold hand in her 
own warm one. But the boy seemed to 
prefer Eugenia, for he crept closer to her. 

“Oh, it was nothing of any importance,” 
Eugenia began explaining quietly. “The 
sergeant told me he had orders to take 
the men and women into Brussels. They 
are suspected of something or other and 
are to be put into prison. He said he had 
brought the children along because there 
was nothing else to do with them, so I 
offered to look after them.” 

“But, but,” Mildred Thornton faltered. 
“I know it is a painful situation, Eugenia 
dear, but what can you do with three babies 
Our house is already so full ” 

Eugenia nodded. “Yes, I understand, 
but I have already decided what to do. 


22 


In Belgium 


ril stay here in the little one-room house 
with the children tonight. I looked it 
over the other day. There isn’t any fur- 
niture, but we must manage for the night. 
You girls bring me over whatever covers 
you can spare and ask Nicolete to bring 
all the food she can get hold of.” 

‘^But you don’t mean to stay here alone 
with these children in this perfectly for- 
saken place,” Barbara expostulated, dimly 
conscious that Eugenia was becoming more 
of a puzzle than ever. Do old maids now 
and then represent the real mother spirit.^ 
‘‘I’ll stay with you, Eugenia,” she added 
faintly, not altogether enjoying the pros- 
pect. 

But the older girl shook her head. “You 
have your own work to do, Bab. Only 
one of us can be spared. What possible 
danger could come to these little kiddies 
and me?” 

Looking backward a few moments later, 
the three girls discovered that Eugenia 
and the children had already disappeared 
inside the little house. 


CHAPTER II 


A Modern Knight Errant 

Uj CAN’T understand why you and 
I Nona are behaving so strangely, 
^ Mildred. You have been whisper- 
ing together all day. I am sure you are 
acting more like foolish school-girls than 
grown women,” Barbara commented in an 
annoyed tone. 

She was walking alongside her two taller 
friends with her head held as high as 
possible to make up for her lack of dignity 
in stature. Two spots of angry color 
decorated her cheeks. 

For neither Mildred nor Nona had con- 
descended to pay any attention to her 
remark. Moreover, their whispering con- 
tinued. 

The three girls were walking abreast 
along one of the suburban roads that lead 
into the city of Brussels. It was a long 
walk, yet horses and motor cars were only 

( 23 ) 


24 


In Belgium 


used by the powerful in these days, except 
in cases of especial urgency. So as the three 
Red Cross girls were merely going into 
town to report at the Red Cross head- 
quarters, "^there was no real reason why they 
should ride instead of walk. 

They had not objected to the walk; 
indeed, had been glad of the opportunity. 
But as Barbara had found herself entirely 
left out of the conversation along the way, 
naturally she was beginning to find the road 
a tiresome one. 

Brussels has always been thought to be 
a miniature Paris. Indeed, the Belgian 
capital has been modeled on the larger city. 
But beside its art, nature has given it the 
same gayety of spirit and a portion of the 
same natural beauty. So it does not seem 
unreasonable that the two cities shed their 
tears together during the great war. Yet 
the American girls had witnessed no such 
gloom in Paris as they found in Brussels. 

In Paris one was at least able to talk 
freely against the enemy, to gesticulate with 
the abandon characteristic of the Latin 
peoples. Here in the Belgian city one must 


A Modern Knight Errant 


25 


be dumb, as well as hungry and sick at 
heart. To speak one’s mind was to offend 
against His Majesty, the Kaiser, since 
everywhere in Belgium the Germans were 
now in command. 

Therefore, as the girls reached the city 
they too became affected by the subdued 
atmosphere. Of course, the people engaged 
in certain necessary occupations were about, 
but trading was very slight. In some of 
the cafes there were a few German soldiers. 
But not many of them were quartered in 
Brussels, only a sufficient number to pre- 
serve peace and to enforce a surface 
loyalty to their conquerors. 

Barbara and Nona were in deep sym- 
pathy with the Belgians. Barbara because 
she was always enlisted on the side of the 
weak against the strong. Nona, possibly 
because as a South Carolina girl, she 
belonged to a country that had once been 
overrun by greater numbers. But Mildred 
Thornton and Eugenia insisted that they 
intended to preserve neutral attitudes. 
They were Red Cross nurses, not soldiers, 
and there is always another side to every 
story. 


26 


In Belgiiun 


As Nona’s attention was so engaged by 
Mildred, even after the three girls arrived 
in Brussels, Barbara had little to do 
except make observations. This was not 
their first trip to the Red Cross head- 
quarters, but they did not yet know the 
city sufficiently well not to enter it as 
strangers. _ 

Only in one place could Barbara discover 
a crowd and that was wherever a church 
stood. Women and children and an occa- 
sional elderly man were always entering 
and leaving the Catholic churches. 

Suddenly Barbara thought of Eugenia. 
Why had she not come with them this 
afternoon? They had been told to report 
to the Red Cross headquarters In order to 
be assigned to their work. Usually It was 
Eugenia who rigidly insisted upon obedi- 
ence to orders. What could she have in 
mind this afternoon of greater importance? 

Barbara had paid a visit to Eugenia and 
the three children earlier in the day. She 
had found them contentedly playing at 
housekeeping In the one-room shack, which 
must once have been a small storehouse. 


A Modern Knight Errant 


27 


By one of the many miracles of war this 
little place had escaped destruction when 
the larger house was burned. 

Eugenia, who was by nature a com- 
mander-in-chief, had set the children vari- 
ous tasks. Bibo, the lame boy, was 
gathering chips from the charred, half- 
burned apple trees as cheerfully as a small 
grasshopper transformed into a thrifty ant. 
The girl, Louise, was assisting Nicolete to 
spread their scanty covering upon a freshly 
washed floor, sedate as a model chamber- 
maid. Barbara had watched them in some 
amusement before attempting to join 
Eugenia. 

It seemed difficult to remember the 
scarlet poppy of a girl whom she had first 
seen dancing for the French soldiers, in 
the present Nicolete. For one thing, 
Eugenia had demanded that the French 
girl wear sober and conventional clothes. 
So gone was her scarlet skirt and cap ! 
Nicolete now wore an ordinary shirtwaist 
and skirt and a blue gingham apron. The 
clothes had once belonged to Mildred 
Thornton and Nona had kindly altered 


28 


In Belgium 


them to fit. Because the three girls had 
absolutely refused to allow Eugenia to put 
her little French protege into any of her 
ancient New England toilets. There were 
limits to the things an artistic nature could 
endure, Barbara had protested. 

But why, after all, had Nicolete decided 
to come away with them from her own 
beloved land.^ It was equally as mys- 
terious to the three other girls as Eugenia’s 
adoption of the child. 

Neither of them had discussed their 
reasons. As Captain Castaigne soon after 
his recovery had been ordered north with 
his regiment, he was not able to offer 
an explanation. The three American Red 
Cross girls were simply told that Nicolete 
had no people of her own and did not wish 
to go back to the family who had formerly 
cared for her. 

But after Barbara’s survey of the cottage 
she had returned to the yard for a talk 
with Eugenia. 

She had found her with the little Belgian 
baby in her arms walking about the ruined 
house. 


A Modern Knight Errant 


29 


Even here in the streets of Brussels, with 
so many other objects to absorb her atten- 
tion, Barbara again found herself wonder- 
ing at the change in Eugenia. She did not 
seem to care to be in their society as she 
had in the earlier part of their acquaint- 
ance. Nevertheless, she was no longer so 
stern and dictatorial. Today she had 
asked Barbara’s advice quite humbly about 
a number of things. Yet she had refused 
point-blank to tell what she intended doing 
on this same afternoon. 

But Barbara’s reflections were suddenly 
ended by their arrival in front of a hand- 
some house in Brussels. It was a private 
mansion that had been given over to the 
relief work by General von Bissing, the 
German military governor of Belgium. 

They found the place crowded. In the 
hall there was a long line of Belgians wait- 
ing assistance. Yet the girls felt almost at 
home, there were so many of their own 
country people about. 

However, they were invited to wait in 
a small reception room until the Superin- 
tendent could And time for them. 


30 


In Belgium 


The buildings in Brussels have so far 
remained uninjured by the war. For 
although fighting had taken place all around 
the city, the surrender came before its 
destruction. 

The girls were ushered into what had 
once been an attractive sitting room. At 
one side there was a small sofa and here 
Nona and Mildred straightway seated them- 
selves without regarding their friend. 

So once more Barbara felt hurt and 
left out of things. By chance there was 
no chair near the sofa, but by this time 
she was far too much wounded to try to 
force herself into the conversation. 

However, Barbara at least felt privileged 
to use her eyes. For some mysterious 
reason both Mildred and Nona were look- 
ing unusually cheerful. This was certainly 
odd in view of the fact that everything 
they had seen since coming into Belgium 
was more than depressing. Yet Barbara 
decided that Nona was uncommonly gay 
and excited. Her eyes were a darker brown 
than usual and her cheeks had more color. 
There could be little doubt that she was 


A Modern Knight Errant 


31 


exceptionally pretty most of the time and 
even prettier than usual today. More- 
over, Mildred had lost her serious expres- 
sion. Her fine white teeth flashed every 
moment into a smile. Animation was what 
Mildred most needed and she had her full 
share today. 

‘‘Shall we tell Barbara now?” Dis- 
tinctly Barbara overheard Mildred Thorn- 
ton whisper these few words. Yet in return 
Nona shook her head so decisively that 
Mildred evidently changed her mind. 

When the door to their sitting room 
opened Barbara had again fallen into a 
reverei. She heard some one enter the 
room, but supposing the man a messenger 
did not glance up. 

Barbara’s exclamation of surprise was 
due to the surprising behavior of her two 
companions. 

For Mildred and Nona at once jumped to 
their feet, and actually Mildred ran for- 
ward a few steps with her arms out- 
stretched. 

In amazement Barbara at this moment 
turned her gaze upon the newcomer. Im- 


32 


In Belgium 


mediately her face flushed and the tears 
started to her eyes, yet she would rather 
have perished than let either effect be 
discovered. 

However, she had only seen a young 
American fellow of about twenty-two or 
three years of age, dressed in a dark-blue 
serge suit. He looked extremely well and 
handsome, except for the fact that his left 
arm was apparently paralyzed. 

By this time Mildred had thrown her arms 
about his neck and they were kissing each 
other with devoted affection. 

‘H can’t say how happy I am to see you, 
Dick. It Is the most beautiful thing that 
ever happened to have you here in Belgium 
with us ! I have scarcely been able to wait 
until today, and then I was so afraid you 
would not arrive in time.” 

All this from the usually quiet Mildred! 

However, Dick Thornton had finally 
ceased greeting his sister and turned to 
Nona Davis. Nona seemed as glad to see 
him as Mildred. She held his hand for 
some time and kept Insisting upon her 
pleasure in meeting him again. 


A Modem Knight Errant 


33 


Nevertheless, after Nona’s greeting had 
occupied as long a time as possible, Bar- 
bara Meade made not the slightest effort 
to step forward and welcome her former 
friend. 

Certainly his arrival explained Mildred’s 
and Nona’s mysterious behavior. Yet 
what reason could there have been for not 
telling her they expected Richard Thorn- 
ton’s appearance in Brussels on this par- 
ticular afternoon.^ She had not offended' 
against any one of the three of them, that 
she should have been so ignored! 

It was a very stiff Barbara whom Dick 
finally walked across the room to greets 
Eugenia at her best could never have ap- 
peared more uncomprising. With his hand 
extended Dick involuntarily paused, while 
a curious expression showed on his face. 

‘‘Aren’t you pleased to see me, Barbara — 
Miss Meade he corrected himself. “I 
have not recovered, but I’ve found out 
that I can be of some little use with the 
relief work here in Brussels with one arm. 
But besides wishing to be useful, I have 
four attractions to bring me to Belgium.’^ 


34 


In Belgium 


Dick spoke in his old light-hearted fash- 
ion, although Barbara could see that a 
part of it was pretense. 

‘‘Of course, I am glad to see you,” she 
returned slowly. “But since I have been 
left out of the secret of your coming, you 
must understand that I am more surprised 
than anything else at present.” 

“Oh, certainly,” Dick answered, letting 
his arm drop to his side. For Barbara had 
apparently not seen his extended hand. 

“Dick was uncertain whether he could 
be of service and so asked us not to speak 
of his coming until he was positive,” Mil- 
dred apologized. “I wanted to tell you, 
Barbara, but Nona felt it best not to. 
She had the last letter with instructions 
from Dick.” 

Barbara glanced toward Nona and then 
at Dick. Assuredly there was an under- 
standing between them. Well, she must 
learn not to mind the feeling of being 
ignored since it would probably continue 
for some time to come. 


CHAPTER III 


A Secret Mission 

O N the same afternoon of Dick 
Thornton’s coming into Belgium 
Eugenia started out alone on her 
unexplained errand. She left her recently 
acquired family in charge of the little 
French girl, Nicolete. 

Nicolete seemed happier with the chil- 
dren than she had been since her removal 
from France. Indeed, the three American 
girls had sometimes wondered over her 
unfriendliness toward them and her unusual 
quiet. At their first meeting she had ap- 
peared such a gay, gypsy-like person. 

But Eugenia did not walk to her engage- 
ment. By making a tremendous effort she 
had managed to hire an old horse and buggy. 
Then, after she felt sure the other three 
Red Cross girls had departed on the road 
toward Brussels, she set out. Inside the 
wagon she carefully hid out of sight her 

( 35 ) 


36 


In Belgium 


bag of Red Cross supplies, although she 
did not wear her nurse’s uniform. 

Earlier in the day Barbara had brought 
down her suitcase, so that she could appear 
in an ordinary street dress. 

Driving along the road Eugenia hoped 
to suggest that she was only off on an 
ordinary errand which could not interest 
any one who chanced to observe her. 

She was looking rather plain and tired 
and was unusually nervous, but this it 
would have been difficult to guess from her 
quiet manner. 

The country through which she passed 
was one of queer contrasts. There were 
many houses that had been destroyed by 
fire, but others that had not even been 
touched. In these places people were evi- 
dently making an effort to lead an ordinary, 
everyday existence. But they were all 
listless and discouraged. Eugenia thought 
that the children must have forgotten how 
to play in this last year, when their land 
had suffered such sorrow. 

She wished that she might gather them 
all together in one great circle that should 


A Secret Mission 


37 


extend all over Belgium and set them to 
laughing and playing once more. 

However, Eugenia soon left the populated 
part of the neighborhood. She and her 
old horse wound their way along a stream 
and then came to a gate. There was no 
house in sight from the gate, but just as 
if she had been there before, Eugenia got 
down and opened it. Then she tied her 
horse behind a clump of trees inside the 
woods and with her bag of nursing supplies- 
in her hand crept along on foot up a nar- 
row path. Every once and a while she would 
stop and glance cautiously about her. But 
no one was in sight to be interested in her 
proceedings. Moreover, where could she 
be going She seemed to have some end 
in view, and yet there was no place or 
person in the vicinity. Any one familiar 
with the neighborhood could have explained 
that Eugenia must be bent upon an utterly 
ridiculous errand. There was an old house 
about half a mile farther along, but it had 
been deserted long before the Germans 
had ever set foot on conquered Belgium. 

A tragedy had occurred in the house 


38 


In Belgium 


ten or fifteen years before, and ever after- 
wards the place had been supposed to be 
haunted. 

No one believed such nonsense, of course, 
since intelligent persons do not believe in 
ghosts. But the house was too far from 
the village, and was in too bad a state of 
repair to be a desirable residence. Indeed, 
there were dozens of reasons why, after 
its owners moved, no one else cared to 
rent it. 

Moreover, the house had also escaped 
the interest of the German invaders of 
the land. So why in the world should 
it be of so great interest to Eugenia that 
she was making this lonely pilgrimage, 
without taking any one of the three Red 
Cross girls into her confidence.^ 

The house was of brick and a large one. 
Every outside shutter was closed in 
front and the vines had so grown over 
them that they were half covered. There 
was a porch also in front, but the boards 
of the steps had long since rotted away. 

At first only a large toad appeared to 
greet Eugenia. He eyed her distrustfully 


A Secret Mission 


39 


for a second, his round eyes bulging and 
his body rigid with suspicion. Then he 
hopped behind his stone fortress, which 
chanced to be a large stone at the end of 
the path before the house. 

However, Eugenia did not see him. 
Neither did she attempt to go up the 
rickety steps. How absurd it would have 
been anyhow to have battered at the 
door of a mansion that had been unin- 
habited for years! 

Instead she marched deliberately around 
the house and knocked at a door at the 
side. 

A few seconds after, this door was opened 
by a woman of middle age. 

She looked very worn and unhappy, but 
her face brightened at the sight of her 
guest. 

“I was so afraid you wouldn’t, couldn’t 
get here,” she said. ‘H suppose you know 
you are taking a risk.” 

Eugenia nodded in her usual matter of 
fact fashion. 

“I promised your friend I would do my 
best,” she returned. ‘‘Will you please 


40 


In Belgium 


take me up to the room. You must make 
up your mind to get more air into this 
house. I don’t think you need fear you 
will be suspected, if you managed to arrive 
here without being detected.” 

‘‘I am afraid,” the older woman an- 
swered. She was leading the way up a 
pair of back stairs that were in almost 
total darkness. 

‘‘You see, I know I have been accused 
of sending information to my husband 
who is supposed to be at the front with 
the Belgian army. I was about to be 
arrested and tried by a military court. 
I should have been sent to prison and I 
could not be separated from my family 
at such a time!” 

The last few words were whispered. 
Because at this moment the woman’s 
hand had touched a door knob w’hich she 
was gently turning. The next she and 
Eugenia were entering a large room at the 
back of the apparently deserted house. 

A window had been opened and an 
attempt made to clean this room. On 
the bed, with a single scanty cover over 


A Secret Mission 


41 


them, two persons were lying. One of 
them was a young boy and the other a 
man. 

Both of them were extremely ill. Eugenia 
realized this at a glance, but paid little 
attention to the man at first. For she 
suddenly had a complete understanding 
of Madame Carton’s last words. 

The boy was such an exquisite little 
fellow of about ten years old. He had 
straight golden hair and gray eyes with 
darker lashes. There was the same high- 
bred, delicate look that one remembers in 
the picture of ‘‘The Two Little Princes 
in the Tower.” 

Through a peculiar source Eugenia had 
already learned a portion of Madame Car- 
ton’s story. She was a Belgian woman 
whose home was one of the handsomest 
in the city of Brussels. But after the city 
had been forced to surrender to the Ger- 
mans, Madame Carton had refused to 
give up her home unless the authorities 
expelled her by force. This for some 
reason they had appeared unwilling to do. 
However, a short time after the German 


42 


In Belgium 


occupancy of Brussels, reports accusing 
Madame Carton of treason and rebellion 
began to be circulated. It was said that 
she was sending secret information to her 
husband, who was a colonel in the Belgian 
army and on the personal staff of King 
Albert. Finally Madame Carton learned 
that her arrest was only a matter of a 
few hours. Then it was that she had 
managed to escape to this deserted house 
with her family. So far it looked as if 
her whereabouts had remained undis- 
covered. 

One hour after Eugenia’s arrival she 
and Madame Carton were once more at 
the foot of the stairs. They had opened 
the side door to let in a tiny streak of 
light and air. 

‘‘But, Madame Carton, I don’t think 
it is possible,” Eugenia announced with her 
usual directness. “I am willing to do 
whatever I can to help nurse your little 
boy and the other patient, but I can come 
to you very seldom without being dis- 
covered. You see, I may be ordered to 
nurse in any part of Belgium and I must 


A Secret Mission 


43 


do what I am told. Is there any one here 
to assist you.^” 

Madame Carton nodded. She had once 
been a very beautiful woman with the 
gray eyes and fair hair of her son. But 
the last year of witnessing the desolation 
of her people and her country had whit- 
ened her hair and made many lines in her 
face. 

‘‘Yes, I have an old family servant with 
me. I should never have been able to 
make the journey without her help. She 
and my little girl, who is six years old, 
are in hiding in another room in the attic 
of this house. Years ago when I was a 
child I used to come here to play with 
friends who then owned this place. I sup- 
pose that is why I thought of our hiding 
here when the crisis came,’’ Madame Car- 
ton explained quietly. “Now if I return 
to Brussels perhaps Paul may be cared 
for. But you know what else would hap- 
pen. It would be inevitable! Even if 
I were not shot I must go to prison. Can’t 
you help me.^ Can’t you think of some 
way to save us <2//.^” 


44 


In Belgium 


The older woman took hold of Eugenia’s 
hands and clung to them despairingly. 

‘‘I know I am asking what looks like 
an impossible thing of you, and you a 
complete stranger! Yet you look so strong 
and fine,” Madame Carton’s voice broke, 
but Eugenia’s touch was reassuring. 

‘‘If only a doctor could come to us, 
perhaps with your advice I might manage 
the nursing myself,” she continued. 

Eugenia shook her head. 

“When Dr. Le Page asked me to see 
you and gave me the directions, he said 
it was only because he dared not visit 
you himself,” Eugenia explained kindly, 
but with her usual avoidance of anything 
but the truth. “He insists that, although 
he is an American, he is suspected of feel- 
ing too much sympathy for the Belgians. 
After warning you to escape he was ques- 
tioned and believes he is still being watched. 
That is why he confided you to me, asking 
me to do the little I can to aid you. So 
if he should attempt to reach you out here, 
it would mean his arrest as well as yours. 
I am sorry,” the girl ended. 


A Secret Mission 


45 


Her words were simple enough in the 
face of so great a calamity. Yet there 
was no mistaking their sympathy. 

Madame Carton appeared to surrender 
her judgment and her problem to Eugenia 
for solution. 

‘^Tell me, Miss Peabody, what do you 
think I should do?” she asked. ‘‘It is 
not worth while for me to say that I care 
little what becomes of me. Shall I return 
to Brussels and give us all up to the 
authorities ? ” 

Eugenia did not answer immediately. 
When she spoke again she offered no 
explanation of her own meaning. 

‘‘Please wait a while, Madame Carton, 
if possible, until I can see you again?” 
she asked. ‘‘In case you are not dis- 
covered before then I may have a plan 
to suggest that will help you. But I can- 
not be sure. Good-by and a good courage.” 

Then Eugenia marched deliberately back 
to the place where her old horse was in 
waiting. She then drove unmolested to 
the tiny house that was sheltering Nicolete 
and the three stray children. 


46 


In Belgium 


But on her way she was repeating to 
herself a phrase she had learned years 
before as a girl at the High School: 

‘‘Quorum omnium fortissimi sunt Bel- 
gae,’’ said Caesar nearly twenty centuries 
ago. “The bravest of all these are the 
Belgians.” 

Eugenia thought the same thing today 
and for the same reason Caesar did. “Be- 
cause they are nearest to the Germans, 
who dwell across the Rhine, with whom 
they do continually wage war.” 


CHAPTER IV 


Plans for the Future 

T he moon shone down upon Belgium 
as serenely as upon any uncon- 
quered land. 

Two girls were walking slowly arm in 
arm along a stretch of country road. 
There was no one else in sight at the time, 
yet they seemed entirely unafraid. A 
quarter of a mile beyond them, however, 
a dim light burned In the window of a 
small frame house. Near it was a tumbled 
mass of brick and stone. 

“We received our orders for work this 
afternoon, Eugenia dear,’’ Barbara re- 
marked. “They were sorry you were 
not with us. But you are to come in to 
headquarters as soon as possible, when 
arrangements will be made for you.” 

Unconsciously Barbara sighed and al- 
though it was too dark in the moonlight 
to distinguish the expression on her face, 
her companion paused for a moment. 

( 47 ) 


48 


In Belgium 


‘‘Are you disappointed in what they 
wish you to do, Barbara, child?’’ Eugenia 
■ inquired more gently than she usually 
spoke. “You sound rather forlorn and 
‘wee’ as the Scotch sometimes say. Of 
course, I know you are tired from the long 
trip into Brussels and coming here to spend 
the night with me. It is lovely to have 
you for this quiet walk, but I’m afraid 
you’ll find a bed on the floor a pretty 
hard resting place even for war times.” 

“Oh, I shan’t mind. Besides, I brought 
over some more bed-clothes,” the younger 
girl answered, although her attention was 
not really fixed upon her reply. 

Eugenia had guessed correctly in think- 
ing Barbara was tired. Her face was 
very small and white, so that her eyes 
appeared almost unnaturally large and 
blue. Her only color was in her lips, 
which drooped like a weary child’s. 

“Oh, yes, the work is all right. One 
can’t expect an easy time of it these days. 
Besides, I hope some day to prove to you, 
Eugenia, that I did not come to Europe 
to nurse in the Red Cross just for the sake 


Plans for the Future 


49 


of an adventure. Of course, I shall never 
dare hope to do anything to compare with 
what you have done, or to be anything 
like you, but ” 

Barbara's speech was interrupted by her 
friend’s hand being laid firmly across her 
lips. 

“I prefer your not saying things like 
that,” she answered in a tone that the 
other girl felt obliged to respect. It was 
not that Eugenia was unduly modest. 
Only that she had never appeared to de- 
sire to talk about her final experience in 
France. Indeed, the other three girls 
had been provoked before this by her 
reticence. It was all very well for Eugenia 
not to discuss before strangers her rescue 
and care of Captain Castaigne under such 
extraordinary difficulties. But it was tire- 
some of her never to be willing to relate 
the details of her experience to her most 
intimate companions. Personally, Barbara 
Meade intended to hear the whole thing 
some day from beginning to end. Then 
she would be able to tell the story to the 
Countess Amelie, who had become her own 


50 


In Belgium 


and Nona’s devoted friend. For Captain 
Castaigne had given only a brief account 
of the circumstances to his mother. Actu- 
ally he had been as reticent in the matter 
as Eugenia. However, Barbara was not 
in the mood tonight to demand other 
people’s confessions. 

‘Hf you are tired, suppose we sit down 
for a while,” Eugenia suggested. The two 
girls found a tree near by that had been 
uprooted by an underground explosion and 
lay face down upon the earth with its arms 
outspread, like a defeated giant. 

Unconsciously they both sighed with 
relief and then smiled half humorously at 
each other. 

“We are all to work at the same hospital 
in Brussels,” Barbara went on. “At least, 
Mildred and Nona and I have been chosen 
for the same place. I don’t know about 
you. Thank goodness, it is an American 
hospital and supported by our money!” 

“Don’t be prejudiced,” Eugenia remon- 
strated. 

But Barbara shook her head impatiently. 
“How can one help being? You are only 


Plans for the Future 


51 


pretending to yourself that you are neutral. 
If the Germans had been conquered, per- 
haps I should feel equally sorry for them. 
But to me Belgium is like a gallant boy 
who went out with his head up and his 
lips smiling to do battle with a giant. 
The courage of it is like a song!” 

In silence Eugenia agreed. 

Then Barbara leaned her curly brown 
head on her companion’s arm. 

‘‘I have a piece of news for you, Gene,” 
she added. “Really, I came to you to- 
night to be the first to tell you. Who 
do you think arrived in Brussels today to 
help with the American Relief work.^” 
Barbara did not wait for an answer to her 
question. “Dick Thornton!” she finished 
with a sudden indrawing of her breath. 

The older girl did not glance toward her 
companion. Her attention seemed to be 
fixed upon a particularly effective June 
moon which was just emerging from a 
cloud-like veil. 

“That is tremendously good news, isn’t 
it.^ And it is great of Dick to insist on 
being useful in spite of his misfortune! 


52 


In Belgium 


But perhaps I am not so surprised as you 
think I ought to be, Barbara. Nona half 
confessed the possibility of his turning up 
to me several days ago. She told me I 
was not to speak of this, however, to you, 
because Dick might not be able to come 
and he did not wish — ” Eugenia hesitated 
a second — “he did not wish Mildred to 
be disappointed. Now I am particularly 
glad you are all to be in Brussels. Perhaps 
you may have a chance to see Dick nearly 
as often as you like.*’ 

“Yes, it will be awfully nice for Mildred 
and Nona and I am delighted for them,” 
Barbara interrupted, moving several feet 
away from 'her friend. “But I do hope 
you will be with us, Eugenia, to associate 
with me! I hate to be in the way. And 
I am afraid I will be, under the circum- 
stances.” 

The younger girl had lowered her voice 
to the purest confidential tone. Then, 
although they were quite alone, she looked 
carefully around before going on. 

“Perhaps I haven’t any right to say so, 
but I am almost sure there is a bond 


Plans for the Future 


53 


between Nona Davis and Dick. I didn’t 
dream of this when we were in Paris 
together. But I know they have been 
writing each other constantly ever since. 
Besides, if you had seen their meeting 
today!” 

She ceased talking, for Eugenia was 
shaking her head in doubt. 

“But isn’t Nona one of the prettiest 
girls you ever saw and the most charm- 
ing.^” Barbara demanded argumentatively 
the next instant. She seemed almost angry 
at the older girl’s silent disagreement. 

This time Eugenia inclined her head. 

“I have no idea of disputing Nona’s 
beauty or charm, or Dick Thornton’s 
either. He is a splendid American fellow. 
And if one of you Red Cross girls must 
fall in love, certainly I should prefer you 
to fall in love with Dick. However, at 
present I simply don’t believe there is an 
affair between Dick and Nona.” 

“But you’ll see in time,” Barbara per- 
sisted. 

“Yes, I’ll see in time,” Eugenia 
concluded. 


54 


In Belgium 


Then Barbara crept closer again. 

‘‘The moonlight, or something, makes 
me feel dismal,” she confided. “I don’t 
know why, but the moon gives me the 
blues far more than it ever makes me 
romantic. Sometimes I wonder if we will 
ever get back home safely, all of us, with- 
out any illness or sorrow or anything,” 
Barbara ended vaguely. 

Eugenia could be a remarkably com- 
forting person when she liked. 

She made no reply at the moment, 
only drew the younger girl toward her. 

“Now I have something to tell you, 
Barbara. It is good of you to wish me 
to be in Brussels with you, but I’m really 
not much good as a companion. You 
girls are ever so much happier without me, 
I feel sure, or I wouldn’t desert you.” 

“Desert us.^” Barbara stifiFened at once, 
forgetting the other subject of their con- 
versation. 

“You don’t mean, Eugenia Peabody, 
that you have decided to give up the 
Red Cross work and go back home.^ You, 
of all of us! I simply won’t believe it. 


Plans for the Future 


55 


Why, I thought you were the most de- 
voted, the most ” 

Eugenia laughed half-heartedly. ‘‘I 
didn’t say I was going home, Barbara,” 
she protested. ‘‘But you are right in 
thinking I mean to give up my Red Cross 
work, at least if I am allowed to resign. 
I don’t know why, but recently I don’t 
seem to feel the same fondness for nursing. 
I kind of dread a great many things 
about it.” 

Barbara laid her hand caressingly upon 
Eugenia’s knee. 

Really Eugenia was growing so surpris- 
ingly human these days that one could 
scarcely recall the old Eugenia. 

“Oh, that is just because you are tired. 
I know you have always denied this, but 
you have never been exactly the same since 
your siege with Captain Castaigne. The 
responsibility and the work were too much 
for you. I don’t think he was ever half 
grateful enough! The idea of his joining 
his regiment without coming to say good- 
by to you — ^just writing a letter! Promise 
me you will go quietly away somewhere 


56 


In Belgium 


and rest for a few weeks, Eugenia. Then 
I know you^ll feel like getting back into 
harness again. Really, I need you to be 
with us. I haven’t any backbone unless 
you are around to make me afraid of you.” 

Eugenia shook her head. ‘^Perhaps I 
shall not be very far away and we may 
be able to see each other now and then. 
I have been thinking of a scheme for sev- 
eral days, almost ever since we came into 
Belgium. You remember I told you I 
had a good deal of money, but did not 
always know just how to spend it. Well, 
I have found a way here. I am going to 
get a big house and I am going to fill it 
full to overflowing with the Belgian babies 
and all the children who need an old maid 
mother to look after them. And I think 
I found the very house I need today. It 
is an old place that is supposed to be 
haunted and is far away from everything 
else. But it is big and has an old veranda. 
Perhaps I’ll still be doing Red Cross work 
if I take care of well babies as well as sick 
ones. Do you think I’ll make a great 
failure as a mother, Bab?” she ended. 


Plans for the Future 


57 


Without replying Barbara’s answer was 
yet sufficiently reassuring. 

At the same time she was wondering 
if these past few months had changed 
Eugenia as much as she appeared to be 
changed. But perchance she had always 
been mistaken in her view of her. 

Then both girls started suddenly to 
their feet. For the little French girl, 
Nicolete, had come upon them unawares. 
She gave Barbara a glance revealing but 
little affection. Then beckoning Eugenia 
mysteriously aside she soon ran off again 
like a sprite in the moonlight. 


CHAPTER V 


St, Gudula 

S EVERAL weeks later Barbara Meade 
walked down the steps of a house in 
Brussels out into one of the streets 
near the Palais de la Nation. The house 
had once been a private residence, but 
since the coming of war into the heart of 
Belgium had been turned into a relief 
hospital by the American Red Cross Society. 

Barbara walked slowly, looking at all 
the objects of interest along the way. She 
wore a dark-blue taffeta suit and white 
blouse and a small blue hat with a single 
white wing in it. 

Evidently she was not in a hurry. In- 
deed, she behaved more like an ordinary 
tourist than an overworked nurse. Yet a 
glance into Barbara’s face would have sug- 
gested that she was dreadfully fagged and 
anxious to get away from the beaten track 
for a few hours. It chanced to be her 

( 58 ) 


St. Gudula 


59 


one afternoon of leisure in the week, so 
for the time she had discarded her nurse’s 
uniform. She was also trying to forget 
the trouble surrounding her and to appre- 
ciate the beauty and charm of Brussels. 

Yet Barbara found it difficult to get 
into a mood of real enjoyment. These 
past few weeks represented the hardest 
work she had yet done, for the funds for 
the Belgian Relief work were getting pain- 
fully low. Therefore, as there were still 
so many demands, the workers could only 
try to do double duty. 

Finally Barbara entered the church of 
St. Gudula, which happened to be near 
at hand. It was a beautiful Gothic build- 
ing, dedicated to the patron saint of Brus- 
sels. Once inside, the girl strolled quietly 
about, feeling herself already rested and 
calmed from the simple beauty of the 
interior. The tall rounded pillars and six- 
teenth century stained glass represented a 
new world of color and beauty. Although 
she was not a Catholic, Barbara could not 
refrain from saying a short prayer in the 
‘‘Chapel of Notre-Dame-de-Deliverance” 


60 


In Belgium 


for the safety of the Belgian people and 
their gallant king and queen. Barbara 
was too loyal an American to believe that 
kings and queens were any longer useful 
as the heads of governments. Neverthe- 
less, as a noble man and woman, King 
Albert and Queen Elizabeth of Belgium, 
commanded her admiration and sympathy. 
Since the outbreak of the war neither of 
them seem to have given thought to their 
royalty, remembering only their comm.on 
humanity with the people of their land. 

Already comforted by the few minutes 
of quiet, finally Barbara slipped out of 
one of the side doors that chanced to be 
open. Afterwards she stood looking about 
her in order to find out just where she was. 

The side street was almost entirely free 
from passers by. Therefore, as Barbara 
desired to inquire her way to the nearest 
tram line, she waited for a moment. At 
some distance down the street she could 
see the figure of a man walking in her 
direction. 

She did not look very closely or she 
might have discovered something familiar 


St. Gudula 


61 


in the quick stride and the graceful car- 
riage of the head and shoulders. The men 
of Brussels are rather more French than 
Flemish in their appearance, yet this man 
did not resemble a foreigner. 

Indeed, he walked so much more rapidly 
than Barbara expected that she was ex- 
tremely startled when a voice said close 
beside her: 

“Why, Barbara, this is good luck. To 
think I have not seen you since the first 
afternoon of my arrival! Fm sorry you 
have been so tremendously busy every 
time I have had a chance to run into the 
hospital for a few moments. But Mildred 
and Nona have given me news of you.’’ 

Dick Thornton had taken Barbara’s 
hand and was looking searchingly into her 
face. But after her first recognition of 
him she had dropped her lids, so it was 
not possible to see her eyes. 

“I have just been up to your hospital 
now, but could not get hold of either 
Mildred or Nona. I am sorry. Nona 
had promised me, if she could be spared, 
to spend the afternoon seeing sights. I 


62 


In Belgium 


have investigated thirty destitute Belgian 
families since eight o’clock this morning 
and reported their cases, so I feel rather 
in the need of being cheered.” 

Barbara’s chin quivered a little, although 
it was not perceptible to her companion. 

‘‘I am dreadfully sorry too,’^ she an- 
swered the next instant. ‘‘Certainly you 
are deserving of Nona’s society for a reward. 
And if I had only known your plan you 
might have carried it out. It is my after- 
noon of freedom, but I would very cheer- 
fully have changed my time with Nona.” 

“You are awfully kind, I am sure,” 
Dick returned. But he scarcely showed 
the gratitude at Barbara’s suggestion that 
she expected. 

He glanced up at the beautiful Gothic 
tower of the church near them, remark- 
ing irritably, “I expect you are quite as 
much in need of a rest as any one else. 
Really, Barbara, it is all very well to do 
the best one can to help these unfortunate 
people, but there is no especial point in 
killing yourself. You look wretchedly. 
You are not trying to play at being the 


St. Gudula 


63 


patron saint of Brussels, are you ? Is 
that why you haunt the church of Saint 
Gudula?’^ 

Barbara smiled. ‘‘I am the farthest 
person from a saint in this world,” she 
replied, wrinkling up her small nose with 
a faint return to her old self. ‘‘Nona and 
Mildred and I have decided recently that 
we haven’t but one saint among us. And 
she is the last person I should ever have 
awarded the crown at our first meeting. 
Moreover, I wouldn’t dare present it to 
her now, if she could see or hear me in the 
act. She would probably destroy me 
utterly, because my saint is very human 
and sometimes has a dreadful temper, 
besides a desire to boss everybody else. 
I wonder if real saints ever had such 
traits of character.^ Of course, you know 
I mean Eugenia! I am on my way now 
to her Hotel des Enfants, if I can ever 
find the right street car. She already is 
taking care of twelve children, and I have 
never seen her nor her house since we 
separated. Gene has promised to send 
some one to meet me at the end of the 


64 


In Belgium 


car line. Her house is a deserted old place 
where a ghost is supposed to hold forth. 
But I am assured the ghost has not turned 
up recently. It is nice to have met you. 
Good-by.” And Barbara was compelled 
to stop talking for lack of breath after her 
long speech, as she held out her hand. 
Dick ignored the outstretched hand. His 
face had assumed a charming, boyish ex- 
pression of pleading. Barbara was re- 
minded of the first days of their meeting 
in New York City. 

‘H say, Barbara, why can’t I go along 
with you.^” he demanded. “Of course, 
I realize that for some reason or other 
you are down upon me. I am not such 
a chump as not to understand you could 
have seen me for a few minutes in these 
last few weeks if you had tried. But 
Eugenia is friendly enough. I haven’t 
seen her, but I had a stunning note from 
her. Besides, as I sent her five of her 
twelve Belgian babies, I think I’ve the right 
to find out if she is being good to them. 
I am a kind of a godfather to the bunch. 
Let’s stop by a shop and get some stufiFed 


St. Gudula 


65 


dolls and whistles and sugar plums. Some 
of the Belgian children I have discovered 
seemed to be forgetting how to play.’’ 

Barbara had not answered. Indeed, 
Dick had not intended to give her a chance. 
Nevertheless, her expression had changed 
to a measure of its former brightness. It 
would be good fun to have Dick on the 
afternoon’s excursion! She had rather 
dreaded the journey alone into a strange 
part of the countryside, one might so 
easily get lost. Beside, Barbara knew in 
her heart of hearts that she had abso- 
lutely no right for her unfriendly attitude 
toward Dick Thornton. If he had chosen 
to treat her with less intimacy than in the 
beginning of their acquaintance, that was 
his own affair. If he now preferred Nona 
to her — ^well, he only showed a better 
judgment in desiring the finer girl. 

Barbara now put her hand in a friendly 
fashion on Dick’s sleeve. 

‘T am awfully glad to have you come 
along and I am sure Gene will be,” she 
answered happily. ‘‘Lead on. Sir Knight, 
to the nearest street car.” 


66 


In Belgium 


After an hour’s ride into the country, 
through one of Belgium’s suburbs, Dick 
and Barbara arrived at a tumble-down 
shed. Eugenia had carefully described this 
shed as their first destination. 

Not far off they found Bibo waiting for 
them with a rickety old wagon and an 
ancient horse. Money and Eugenia’s deter- 
mined character had secured the forlorn 
equipage. For it was difficult to buy any 
kind of horse or wagon in these war days. 

However, the small driver, who was the 
boy Eugenia had rescued some weeks before, 
drove with all the pomp of the king’s 
coachman. That is, he allowed the old 
horse to pick her way along a grass-grown 
path for about a mile. Then he invited 
his two passengers to get down, as there 
was no road up to the old house that a 
horse and wagon could travel. 

So Dick and Barbara found themselves 
for the first time in their acquaintance 
wandering along a country lane together. 
Their position was not very romantic, 
however. Barbara led the way along the 
same narrow avenue that Eugenia had fol- 


St. Gudula 


67 


lowed on the day of her first visit to the 
supposedly deserted place. 

Yet although Barbara almost ran along 
in her eagerness to arrive, Dick noticed 
that she looked very thin. She was not 
the Barbara of his first acquaintance; 
something had changed her. Well, one 
could hardly go through the experiences 
of this war without changing, even if one 
were only an outsider. And Dick Thornton 
glanced at his own useless arm with a 
tightening of his lips. He probably owed 
his life to the little girl ahead of him. 

Eugenia did not at first see her guests 
approaching until they had discovered her. 
She was in the front yard and the grass 
had been cut, so that there was a broad 
cleared space. Moreover, every window 
of the supposedly haunted house was thrown 
wide open, so that the sun and air poured 
in. 

It was as little like either a deserted 
or a haunted house as one could humanly 
imagine. For there were eight or ten 
children at this moment in the yard with 
Eugenia. She held a baby in her arms 
and a small boy stood close beside her. 


68 


In Belgium 


Barbara saw the little fellow at the 
same moment she recognized her friend. 
Instantly she decided that he was the most 
exquisite child she had ever seen in her 
life. The boy was like a small prince, 
although he wore only the blue cotton 
overalls and light shirt such as the other 
boys wore. 

But he must have said something to 
Eugenia, for she glanced up and then ran 
forward to meet her guests. The baby 
she dumped hastily into her discarded 
chair. 

‘‘But I thought I was to be your guest 
of honor. Gene?’’ Barbara protested a few 
moments later. “Never should I have 
allowed Dick to come if I had dreamed 
he was to put me in the shade so com- 
pletely.” 

Eugenia laughed, tier new responsibil- 
ities did not appear to have overbur- 
dened her. 

“Come and meet my family,” she in- 
sisted. “There was an old woman who 
lived in a shoe, who had so many children 
she didn’t know what to do.” 


CHAPTER VI 


The Locked Door 

a "1 UT she seems to me a very un- 
usual person to be a servant, 
Gene,” Barbara remarked argu- 
mentatively. ‘‘Of course, I know she was 
wearing a maid’s apron and cap so that 
her hair was completely hidden, and her 
dark glasses concealed her eyes. Still, I 
could see very plainly the woman you 
call ‘Louise’ is not an everyday servant. 
She spoke to Dick and me with perfect 
self-possession, although she did seem ner- 
vous. But it is ridiculous to think one 
can hide a personality under such a slight 
disguise.” 

Barbara spoke pettishly. She and Eu- 
genia were wandering about the big house 
together. They were looking over the 
arrangements Eugenia had made for her 
recently acquired family. These were, of 
course, of the most primitive kind. There 

( 69 ) 


70 


In Belgium 


were about eighteen army cots in the bed- 
rooms, some light coverings, and a few 
wooden chairs. In the big front room down- 
stairs long planks had been laid across 
wooden supports. This formed a large 
and informal dining room table. Yet by 
accident this same room contained a mag- 
nificent Flemish oak sideboard that had 
been left in the house by the former own- 
ers of the place. 

However, Barbara and Eugenia were in 
Eugenia’s own bedroom when the present 
conversation started. They had already 
seen the lower floor of the house, where 
Barbara had been introduced to Eugenia’s 
cook, who was a plain Flemish woman. 
But it was the history of the housemaid, 
a woman of between forty and fifty, whose 
identity Barbara was questioning. 

In reply Eugenia gazed at her friend 
earnestly for a few moments and then 
slowly shook her head. 

“These are war times, Bab. I thought 
you and I had agreed long ago to ask no 
unnecessary questions.” 

Eugenia had seated herself on the side 


The Locked Door 


71 


of her . cot bed, Barbara was on a high 
wooden box, which served as a chair, 
near the window. 

She did not reply at first, but this was 
merely because she was thinking, not be- 
cause she intended to consider Eugenia’s 
suggestion. 

She had one foot crossed under her, 
while the other swung in the air. Her 
brow was wrinkled into a painfully heavy 
frown for so miniature a person. Uncon- 
sciously Barbara pulled meditatively at a 
brown curl that had escaped from the 
knot at the back of her head. 

During her long study Eugenia smiled 
at her guest. She too could not grow 
accustomed to considering Barbara as 
responsible a person as the rest of the Red 
Cross girls. This was only because of her 
appearance, for she had learned to have 
faith in her. 

All of a sudden Barbara began talking 
again, just where she had left off. 

“It is all very well to preach. Gene, 
about not asking unnecessary questions 
because we are living and working in war 


72 


In Belgium 


times. But you know very well we never 
expected that point of view to apply to 
asking questions of each other. We came 
abroad as strangers, except that Mildred 
and I knew each other slightly, but since 
then we have become friends. At least, 
we care a great deal about each other’s 
interests. Now I don’t think for a minute 
we have the right to keep secrets from 
one another. That is, unless they happen 
to be of a kind one simply can’t bear to 
tell.” And at this Barbara hesitated for 
an instant. 

“But about this woman, this ‘Louise’, 
we were discussing. Eugenia, you know 
perfectly well she isn’t a real servant. I 
am dreadfully afraid you are hiding some 
one and it may get you into serious trouble,” 
the younger girl continued, making no 
effort to hide her anxiety. “Really, you 
ought to be careful. Gene. You came to 
Europe to act as a Red Cross nurse, not 
to interfere with questions of government. 
If you do, you may be put into prison, or 
something else dreadful. Do you know 
I thought all along it was funny your 


The Locked Door 


73 


deciding so suddenly to give up your Red 
Cross work and then knowing exactly 
where to find a house. Well, I might as. 
well tell you,’’ Barbara now got off her 
stool and came over and put a hand on 
either of her friend’s shoulders, ‘‘I mean 
to find out what you are trying to hide 
if I possibly can,” she concluded. 

Eugenia did not stir. But she let her 
own dark eyes rest gravely upon Bab’s 
blue ones. 

“Please don’t,” she asked. “I suppose 
I might have guessed that you would 
have discovered there is something unusual 
about my family. But, Bab, I want you 
to promise me on your honor that you 
will not mention your suspicion to any one 
— not to Nona, or Mildred, or Dick Thorn- 
ton. I am trying in a fashion to help 
some one who is in deep trouble. As you 
have guessed, she is a woman, and that 
was her little boy, Jan, whom you saw 
standing by me when you arrived. But 
if questions are asked of you, Barbara, you 
know absolutely nothing of this. I pre- 
fer to manage my own affairs.” 


74 


In Belgium 


Eugenia made this announcement in her 
haughtiest fashion. However, her com- 
panion was not deceived. Eugenia simply 
meant that if disaster followed her attempt 
to shield a prisoner, she alone must bear 
the penalty. 

Quietly for another moment, still with 
her hands on the older girl’s shoulders, 
Barbara continued to consider the situation. 

‘H won’t make you any promises. Gene,” 
she answered at last. ‘H must decide what 
to do later. But I won’t tell Nona, or 
Mildred, or Dick, as I can’t see any special 
point in confiding in them at present. 
However, I am not willing to stand aside 
and let you run deliberately into danger. 
It was all very well your taking care of 
Captain Castaigne. He was desperately 
ill. Your finding him wounded on the 
battlefield was so romantic. But this is 
quite a different affair. We were under 
certain obligations to the Countess Amelie, 
while this ‘Louise’ and her ‘Jan’ are utter 
strangers. I think I’ll go this instant and 
tell the woman she has no right to make 
you undergo such risks.” 


The LfOcked Door 


75 


Again Eugenia did not stir, but this 
time neither did Barbara. 

‘‘You will do no such thing, my dear; 
you must let me manage my life for my- 
self,” she declared quietly instead. “Of 
course, I am not going to take any more 
chances than I must. Come now, let us 
go downstairs and have tea. You and 
Dick were angels to have come on such 
a long journey and you must be nearly 
famished. I have managed to get a few 
supplies in Brussels and I have sent to 
Boston for a great many more. So when 
you girls are able to visit me, we can at 
least regale ourselves with a Boston Tea 
Party.” 

Eugenia put an arm across Barbara's 
shoulder as they moved toward the door. 

A few feet further on the younger girl 
stopped. “Are you very rich, Eugenia 
Peabody.^” she demanded. “Unless you 
are, it is perfectly mad for you to have 
undertaken the expenses of this household. 
Most of these children have not had any- 
thing to eat for a year and must be 
nearly famished.” 


76 


In Belgium 


Eugenia nodded. ‘‘I suppose I am fairly 
wealthy, although I find it hard to realize 
it, as I grew up such a poor girl.” 

‘‘Then why — ^why, Eugenia (I have been 
simply dying to ask you this ever since 
you told us you were rich) — ^why did you 
wear such old-fashioned — if you will excuse 
me — such perfectly awful clothes.^” 

Barbara fairly shuddered, recalling how 
she and Nona and Mildred had suffered 
over Eugenia’s ancient Alpine hat. 

But Eugenia only laughed. She had 
been sensitive enough over the other girls’ 
attitude toward her appearance when they 
first knew one another. But Barbara’s 
way of expressing things was too absurd. 

“I told you I had been so poor I didn’t 
know how to spend money,” she explained. 
“Besides, I have always been so plain it 
never occurred to me that clothes could 
make much difference in my appearance.” 

“Goose!” Barbara looked up at Eugenia 
searchingly. “If ever this wretched war 
is over, I mean to go with you to Paris 
and make you spend heaps and heaps of 
money on clothes. Nona and I have de- 


The Locked Door 


77 


cided that we could make you look quite 
stunning if we had the money to spend. 
Then I should insist that you pay a visit 
to the Chateau d'Amelie. The Countess 
insisted you never could look like anything 
but a New England old maid, no matter 
what exquisite toilets you wore.” 

Then the younger girl’s cheeks grew so 
hot that she could actually feel the tears 
being forced into her eyes. 

‘‘I wonder if I shall ever learn what to 
say and what not to say, Gene.^” she asked 
wretchedly. ‘^Oh, don't tell me you don’t 
mind what I say. That is not the point. 
The trouble is I can’t learn when to hold 
my tongue. I only wish the Countess 
could have seen you when Dick and I 
arrived today.” 

Eugenia was not wearing her nurse’s 
uniform. Instead, she had fished an 
old gray crepon dress out of her trunk. 
But in order to make it more attractive 
for her little guests, she wore a white fichu 
about her neck. Then her hair was wound 
in two heavy braids around her head. 

“There isn’t any particular reason why 


78 


In Belgium 


I should deny being an old maid,” she 
returned. ‘‘Only I am sorry that you 
girls discussed my appearance with a 
stranger.” 

Again Barbara flushed. “The Countess 
isn’t a stranger to us, Gene,” she apologized, 
“and I don’t think you should feel that 
way toward her since you and Captain 
Castaigne have grown to be good friends. 
I don’t see how you can still consider him 
unattractive. But you are terribly preju- 
diced, Eugenia.” 

The two girls had left Eugenia’s bedroom 
and were now walking toward the back 
stairs. 

All of a sudden, when Eugenia chanced 
to be unconscious of her companion, 
Barbara moved away. She at once placed 
her hand on the knob of a door leading into 
a room at the back of the house. 

“Whose room is this, Eugenia.^ May I 
go inside and see.^” she queried. 

Her hand was upon the knob, but, of 
course, she made no effort to enter the 
room, awaiting the other girl’s reply. She 
was interested merely because this seemed 


The Locked Door 


79 


to be about the only room that Eugenia had 
not exhibited. 

But Eugenia immediately looked unac- 
countably angry. Yet she had kept her 
temper perfectly through all Barbara’s 
annoying speeches! 

‘‘Please don’t attempt to go in that 
room, Barbara!” she ordered sharply, quite 
in the manner and temper of the former 
Eugenia. “If I had desired you to see 
the room I should have taken you into it 
myself.” 

“Oh, I beg your pardon,” Barbara re- 
plied, angry with herself for the sudden 
lump that had risen in her throat. “I 
suppose this room is Bluebeard’s chamber, 
or the place where you keep your ghost 
locked up. I did not mean to interfere.” 

“The room is not locked and is entirely 
empty,” Eugenia replied. However, she 
must have parted with her New England 
conscience at the moment of making this 
statement. For Barbara had distinctly 
heard some one moving about inside the 
room. And quite by accident, as her 
hand turned the knob, she realized that 
the door was locked. 


80 


In Belgium 


In the yard the two girls found Dick 
Thornton playing with the children. He 
had discovered some ivy growing on one 
side of the old house. Therefore, each 
girl and boy had been decorated with an 
ivy leaf, as if it were a badge of honor. 
Moreover, Dick also wore a leaf in his 
buttonhole. 

‘Touise” soon brought the tea, which 
Dick drank with satisfaction. Barbara 
tried to pretend that she enjoyed hers, but 
it was extremely difficult. Not that she 
was angry with Eugenia, for her discomfort 
went deeper than that. The fact is she 
was frightened for her. 

Some one more important than “Louise” 
was being guarded by Eugenia. Who on 
earth the man or woman could be, Barbara 
could not even hazard a guess. Yet it 
must be some one whose safety her friend 
considered of great importance, for had 
she not deliberately lied to her.^ 

Certainly Eugenia was facing a grave 
situation! At present no one suspected 
her of treason. She was simply regarded 
as an eccentric American woman, who de-^ 


The Locked Door 


81 


•sired to spend her money in caring for the 
destitute Belgian children. No outsider 
had yet visited her “Hotel des Enfants.’’ 
But, of course, once the news that some- 
thing unusual was going on in her estab- 
lishment reached the German authorities, 
Eugenia could not hope to escape their 
vigilance a second time. 

On the trip back into Brussels Dick 
Thornton found his companion unusually 
quiet. He was under the impression that 
it was because of the change in her once 
friendly attitude toward him. He was 
sorry, because he very much wanted to 
talk to her about a personal matter, but 
never found a sufficiently intimate moment. 

Only once did she arouse herself in the 
effort to make conversation. 

“Why do you happen to be wearing 
that spray of ivy so proudly, Dick.^” she 
inquired carelessly. “I was amused at 
your decorating all the Belgian children 
with leaves.” 

Dick glanced carefully about, but the 
tram car was almost empty. 

“Don’t you understand what the ivy 


82 


In Belgium 


means?” he asked. ‘‘I expect it was 
pretty absurd of me. But the other day 
the German commandant ordered that no 
Belgian should wear his national colors. 
Indeed, they were not to be displayed 
anywhere. Well, the result is, that almost 
everybody one meets upon the street has 
been wearing a leaf of ivy lately.” 

Dick took the ivy spray from his coat 
and handed it to his companion. 

‘‘Do you know what ivy stands for?” 
he asked. “It means attachment, faithful 
unto death. Won’t you wear this?” 

But although Barbara took the shaded, 
dark green leaf into her hand and looked 
at it for a moment, she slowly shook her 
head. 

“There is something charming and pa- 
thetic in the idea, Dick. Remember to 
tell the story to Mildred and Nona. And 
give the ivy to Nona; I am sure she would 
love to have it,” Barbara finished, as she 
gave the leaf back to her companion. 


CHAPTER VII 


A Triangle 


CURIOUS division had developed 



between the four American Red 


^ Cross girls since their arrival in 
Belgium. Perhaps this was due to the 
arrangement of their work, perhaps to 
spiritual conditions which are not always 
easy to see or define. 

Eugenia, for reasons of her own, had 
given up the regular Red Cross nursing, 
preferring to devote herself to the children 
whom the war had made homeless. After 
Barbara’s first visit to her and the dis- 
cussion that had arisen between them, she 
had not urged the younger girl to come 
to see her often. 

Barbara had been several times without 
invitation, but had not referred to their 
past difference. Indeed, she hoped that 
Eugenia would believe the idea had com- 
pletely vanished from her mind. Never- 


( 83 ) 


84 


In Belgium 


theless, she watched affairs at the old 
house more closely than her friend dreamed. 
There were other suspicious circumstances 
that Barbara kept tabulated. Later on, 
if she considered Eugenia in danger, she 
meant to fight for her and with her when 
the occasion arose. 

However, Barbara had her own life and 
labor to occupy her time and was appar- 
ently busier than ever before. For although 
she and Nona and Mildred were working 
at the same hospital, they saw very little 
of one another. 

The American Red Cross hospitals in 
Brussels were not given up entirely to 
the care of the wounded soldiers. The 
Germans looked after their own men and 
their prisoners as well. But there were 
many ill and friendless Belgians, unable 
to leave their country, who must have died 
without the help of the American Red 
Cross. 

Fifty thousand Belgian babies were born 
during the first year of the present war. 
Their fathers had either been killed in 
defence of their country or were away 


A Triangle 


85 


at the front fighting with their king. So 
there were fifty thousand mothers as well 
as babies who must be looked after. 

Barbara's work was among the women 
and children in the American hospital, 
while Mildred and Nona were engaged in 
general nursing. The hospital was not a 
large one; indeed, it had been a private 
home before the coming of the Germans. 
But the Red Cross Societies of the United 
States had outfitted the hospital and only 
American doctors and nurses were taking 
part in the relief work. 

So both from choice and opportunity 
Mildred and Nona were frequently to- 
gether. They shared the same bedroom 
and grew daily more intimate. 

This had not been true at first. Indeed, 
Barbara had appeared as the favorite of 
both girls, until a new bond had developed 
between them. 

Always Mildred Thornton had been 
peculiarly devoted to her brother, Dick. 
Even in his selfish, indolent days in New 
York City she had been unable to see his 
faults. In her heart she had resented Bar- 


86 


In Belgium 


bara Meade’s criticism of him. Now it 
was charming to find that Nona was as 
enthusiastic about Dick as she was. 

Whenever the opportunity came, the 
three of them used to go upon long excur- 
sions about Brussels. They visited the 
Royal Museums, the Palais des Beaux 
Arts, the parks, the Palais de Justice, which 
is the largest and most beautiful modern 
building in the world. And these parties 
did each member of the expedition a 
great deal of good. No one of them 
ever neglected work for pleasure, but the 
occasional happy times kept them cheerful 
and well. 

It might have been better for Barbara 
had she shared these amusements. But 
after inviting her three or four times, 
finding that she always refused, the others 
made no further efforts to persuade her. 
For they seemed to be extremely content 
to be three, in spite of the old adage. 

Indeed, Mildred cherished the unex- 
pressed hope that Dick might be falling 
in love with Nona. So whenever it was 
possible she used to leave the two of them 


A Triangle 


87 


together. But she was wise enough never 
to have made this conspicuous. Neither 
had she intimated any such idea either to 
her friend or brother. 

But it was fairly simple to find one self 
interested in a picture at one end of a 
gallery when her two companions were 
strolling in the opposite direction. Also 
one could grow suddenly weary just as the 
others had expressed the desire to investi- 
gate some remote picture or scene. 

Certainly it is not usual for a devoted 
sister to wish her only brother to marry. 
But then, Mildred Thornton was an excep- 
tional girl. Selfishness had never been 
one of her characteristics, and, moreover, 
jshe was deeply devoted to Nona. Besides 
this, she felt that the best possible thing 
that could happen to Dick was to marry 
an attractive girl. For ever since the loss 
of the use of his arm Mildred had feared 
that he might become morose and unhappy. 
Indeed, he had seemed both of these things 
during their stay in Paris. It was only 
since coming into Brussels that he had 
regained a portion of his old debonair 


88 


In Belgium 


spirit. So naturally Mildred believed Nona 
to have been largely responsible for this. 

There were few people in their senses 
who would have cared at the present time 
to dispute Nona Davis’ charm and beauty. 
She had always been a pretty girl, but the 
past year in Europe had given her a deli- 
cate loveliness that made persons stop to 
gaze at her as she passed them on the 
street. A great deal of her former shyness 
had passed away. In spite of the hard 
work and the sight of so much undeserved 
suffering, she had grown stronger physically. 

For before coming to Europe Nona had 
led too shut-in and conservative a life. 
She had almost no friends of her own age 
and her poverty was not a pretence like 
Eugenia’s, but a very certain and to her 
a very distasteful thing. 

Nona wanted to see the world and to 
occupy an important place in it. In spite of 
her real talent for her work and her unusual 
courage under danger, she had no thought 
of being a hospital nurse all her life. 

Nona’s father was an old man at her 
birth. He had once belonged to a family 


A Triangle 


89 


of wealth and prominence. But after the 
civil war had destroyed his fortune he had 
made little effort to rise superior to circum- 
stances. Yet he had spent a great many 
hours talking to Nona about the true posi- 
tion which she should occupy and telling 
her long stories of her family’s past. 

Charleston, South Carolina, is one of 
the most beautiful and at the same time 
one of the most old-fashioned cities in the 
world. The tide of the new American 
life and spirit has in a measure swept past 
it. At least the new Americanism had 
never entered the doors of Nona’s home 
during her father’s lifetime. 

The old gentleman would have perished 
had he dreamed of his daughter’s becoming 
a trained nurse. However, after his death 
Nona had felt a strong impulse toward 
the profession and so far had never regretted 
the step. 

But it was true that she had been greatly 
influenced by the possible romance and 
adventure in her decision to help with the 
Red Cross work in Europe. This did not 
mean that Nona was not tremendously in 


90 


In Belgium 


earnest. But she was a girl who had read 
a great deal and dreamed many dreams. 
All her life poetry and passion would appeal 
to her more than cold arrangements of 
facts. There was no fault in this, it was 
merely a matter of temperament. Perhaps 
it was partly responsible for the soft light 
in Nona’s brown eyes with their curiously 
golden iris. Also she had a fashion of 
opening her lips slightly when she was 
specially interested in a subject, as if she 
wished to breathe in the essence of the 
idea. 

A part of Nona’s dreaming was due to 
the fact that she had never known her 
mother after she was a small girl. More 
than this, she had been brought up in 
such curious ignorance of her mother’s 
history. Any child in the world must 
have dreamed strange dreams under like 
circumstances. 

Often Nona used to have a vision of her 
mother coming to stand at her bedside. 
Always she appeared dressed in the white 
muslin and blue ribbons, in which she 
remembered seeing her on a special Sunday 
afternoon. 


A Triangle 


91 


Moreover, there was always the question 
of her mother’s family to be pondered over. 
Naturally Nona believed that her mother 
must have been a great lady. Her imagina- 
tion even went so far as to conceive of her 
as a foreign princess, who for reasons of 
state had been suddenly carried off to her 
own land. 

Until she grew old enough to laugh at 
herself, Nona often sat with her delicate 
little nose pressed against the window pane 
in the drawing room of her old Charleston 
home. If questions were asked she could 
invent many reasons to explain her presence. 
She was actually waiting for a splendid 
coach and four to drive up to the door and 
bear her away. The coach was always 
decorated with a splendid coat of arms, and 
for some absurd childish reason the coach- 
man and footmen were dressed in pumpkin- 
colored satin and wore tall black top hats. 

As a matter of fact, as Nona Davis grew 
older these ridiculous fancies faded; never- 
theless, a few of her old dreams remained. 
For one thing, she retained the impression 
that her mother had probably been a 


92 


In Belgium 


foreigner. Yet she never could understand 
why, even after her father’s death, his few 
old friends continued to decline to give her 
any information. Surely one of them must 
know something of her mother. 

It was all too mysterious and disheart- 
ening. On coming to Europe, Nona had 
made up her mind to put the trying mystery 
back of her and to forget it as completely 
as she could. In a measure she had suc- 
ceeded, but since her confession to the Red 
Cross girls the old haunting desire had come 
back to her. She must find out whether 
her mother was dead or living and in either 
case why she had been told nothing of her. 

Then suddenly one day, without knowing 
why, she chose Dick Thornton for a confi- 
dant. More than this, she asked for his 
advice. Whatever the mystery, it was her 
right to be told the exact truth, she insisted, 
and Dick agreed with her. 

This was on one of the occasions when 
they were walking together out from Brus- 
sels in the direction of the sea. They were 
not allowed to travel very far, since the 
roads were all patrolled by German soldiers 


A Triangle 


93 


in command of the fortifications along the 
way. 

Mildred had chosen to rest for a fev/ 
moments, so that Dick and Nona were 
alone. Not that Mildred's presence would 
have interfered; this was simply an acci- 
dent. 

Dick listened with unusual gravity to 
Nona’s history. Perhaps it struck him as 
even queerer than it did the girl herself. 
She had always been accustomed to the 
mystery. Really, the entire story sounded 
like a fabrication. Mysteries were out of 
fashion in these modern days in the United 
States. Although, of course, there was 
nothing too mad or too inconceivable that 
was not taking place in Europe at the 
present time. 

Nothing was more antagonistic to Dick 
Thornton’s nature than concealment of any 
kind. Yet he felt profoundly touched by 
Nona’s confession. The girl herself was so 
attractive! She was still wearing the black 
silk dress and hat she had bought in Paris 
the autumn before. Her face had flushed, 
partly from embarrassment and partly 


94 


In Belgium 


from the emotion she always felt at any 
mention of her mother. 

Her eyes w^re luminous and brown and 
her features as exquisitely carved as a 
Greek statue’s. 

Dick also had no other idea except that 
Nona’s mother must have been a woman 
of grace and breeding. The daughter was 
entirely aristocratic to the tips of her slender 
lingers. For half a moment Dick thought 
of suggesting that he or Mildred write to 
their own mother for advice. In reality 
Mrs. Thornton would have enjoyed tremen- 
dously the unveiling of an agreeable mystery. 
But only if she should discover in the end 
that Nona was the heir to a fortune or a 
great name. If the conclusion of the 
mystery were disagreeable Mrs. Thornton 
would be profoundly bored. 

Therefore he naturally hesitated. ‘‘I 
don’t know exactly what to advise, Nona,” 
he confessed, since they were by this time 
calling each other by their first names. 
‘‘The sensible thing is to write to your 
lawyer and demand to be told all that can be 
found out. If there are any letters or 


A Triangle 


95 


papers, you must be twenty-one, so they are 
legally yours. Then perhaps with some- 
thing to go on, you can find out the truth 
later for yourself. Only please don’t con- 
sider my advice too seriously.” 

Here Dick’s manner and voice both 
changed. He had grown accustomed to 
relying upon his own strength and decision 
in the past year. Yet every once in a while 
he remembered that not many months 
before he had seldom given a serious thought 
to any subject except deciding what girl 
he should invite to the theater or a dance. 

^Ht was awfully kind of you to have 
thought my judgment worth while,” he 
concluded. Then his sudden turning of the 
subject of conversation surprised Nona. 

have a secret of my own which I may 
some day tell you, because I hope to have 
the benefit of your advice,” he added. At 
present I am not sure whether it would be 
wise to speak of it. For so far there is 
nothing to be done with my secret but smile 
and bear it like a man.” 

Then Dick smiled. Do you know, I have 
been thinking lately that perhaps it is the 


96 


In Belgium 


women who smile and bear their burdens. 
A man is rather apt to want to make a noise 
when he is hurt.” 

Nona glanced down at Dick’s sleeve. 
‘‘I don’t think you have a right to accuse 
yourself of that fault,” she said gently. 

But Dick shook his head. ‘‘I was not 
thinking of my arm; I am learning to get 
on fairly comfortably with one arm these 
days.” 


CHAPTER VIII 


A Prison and a Prisoner 

O NE afternoon one of the young 
doctors in the American hospital 
invited Barbara to go with him to 
visit one of the German prisons. These 
prisons sheltered a number of wounded 
British and French soldiers. There were 
scarcely a sufficient number of hospitals to 
take care of the German wounded alone. 

Dr. Mason, the young American surgeon, 
was about twenty-five years old. He had 
been sent into Belgium by the Red Cross- 
societies in his own village in Minnesota.- 
So, although his home and Barbara Meade’s^ 
were many miles apart, at least they were 
both westerners. On this score they had 
claimed a fellow feeling for each other. j| 
The truth was Dr. Mason felt sorry for 
Barbara. She seemed so young and so 
much alone in the unhappy country they 
had come to serve. She did not seem to 
wish to be intimate with the other American 

7 ( 97 ) 


98 


In Belgium 


nurses at their hospital and her two former 
friends evidently neglected her. 

So only with the thought of being kind, 
Dr. Mason had issued his invitation. He 
was not attracted by Barbara. She seemed 
rather an insignificant little thing except 
for her big blue eyes. This was partly 
because Barbara so seldom laughed these 
days. There was little in Belgium that 
one could consider amusing. Just now and 
then she did manage to bubble over inside 
when no one was noticing. For there is no 
world so sad or so dull that it does not offer 
an occasional opportunity for laughter. 

Certainly an excursion to a prison could 
scarcely be considered an amusing expedi- 
tion. Nevertheless, Barbara accepted the 
invitation with alacrity, although she had 
previously declined far pleasanter sugges- 
tions from Dick Thornton and the two 
girls. 

But she had several reasons for her 
present decision. She liked Dr. Mason and 
she was interested to see the inside of a 
German prison. Moreover, it was not 
unpleasant to have her friends find out that 
other persons found her agreeable. 


A Prison and a Prisoner 


99 


Have you ever been in the ridiculous state 
of mind of secretly yearning to be intimate 
with an old friend and yet refusing the 
opportunity when it is offered you? It is 
a common enough state of mind and usually 
comes from a curious combination of 
wounded pride and affection. Yet it is a 
difficult mood to get the better of and 
often one must wait for time to bring the 
adjustment. 

If Barbara had not been a Red Cross nurse 
she w^ould never have been allowed to 
accompany the American surgeon to the 
German prison. But as he might need 
some one to assist him in cases of severe 
illness among the prisoners, Barbara’s pres- 
ence would not be resented. 

The prison was a short distance out from 
the city of Brussels. It had formerly been 
used for persons committing civil offenses, 
but was now a military prison. 

The building was of rough stone and was 
situated in the center of a large court yard. 
It was built around an enclosed square, 
where the prisoners were sometimes allowed 
to enjoy air and exercise. 


100 


In Belgium 


But conditions were not so unpleasant 
here as in many other places, although 
the discipline was fairly severe. For the 
Germans were making their prisoners useful. 

In the early spring crops had been 
planted by the imprisoned men upon many 
of the waste spaces of conquered Belgium. 
Now the prisoners were employed in reap- 
ing some of the harvests. Only a small 
proportion of the food would ever fall to 
their consumption, yet the work in the 
fields was far better for the health and 
spirits of the captured men than idleness. 
It left them less time for thinking of home 
and for fretting over the cruel fortunes of 
war. 

Barbara and Dr. Mason drove out to the 
German prison in one of the automobiles 
connected with their hospital. On the 
outside frame of the car was the Red Cross 
sign with their motto: ‘^Humanity and 
Neutrality.’’ 

The German commandant of the prison 
was a big, blond fellow, disposed to be 
friendly. Straightway he invited the two 
Americans to investigate the prison, declar- 


A Prison and a Prisoner 


101 


ing that the Germans had nothing to conceal 
in the treatment of their captives. 

Dr. Mason, however, was a strictly 
business-like person. He insisted upon 
seeing the sick men first. After doing what 
he could to relieve them, if there were time, 
they would then be pleased to inspect the 
prison. 

So Barbara and the young physician 
were shown into a big room on the top floor 
of the building. A sentry sat on a stool 
outside the door. Inside there were a 
dozen cots, but not another article of 
furniture. The room was fairly clean, but 
was lighted only by two small windows 
near the ceiling and crossed with heavy 
iron bars. 

On the cots were half a dozen French and 
as many English soldiers. Several of them 
were evidently very ill, the others were 
merely weak and languid. A heavy-footed 
German woman, more stupid than unkind, 
was the solitary nurse. 

Once again Barbara had a return of her 
half whimsical, half sorrowful outlook upon 
life. This excursion with Dr. Mason was 
in no sense a pleasant one. 


102 


In Belgium 


For no sooner had she entered the sick 
room than she moved with her peculiar 
light swiftness toward the bed of a young 
soldier. His arms were thrown up over 
his head, as if even the faint light in the 
room tortured him. 

Barbara pulled his arms gently down. 
As she did this he made no effort to resist, 
but murmured something in French which 
she could not comprehend. Yet at the 
same moment she discovered that the boy’s 
eyes were bandaged and that he had a 
quantity of yellow hair, curling all over 
his head in ringlets like a baby’s. 

The German nurse strode over beside 
them. 

“He is blind; no hope!” she announced 
bluntly. 

At the same instant Barbara’s arms went 
around the boy soldier. For hours he 
must have been fighting this terrible night- 
mare alone. Now to hear his own worst 
fears confirmed in such a cold, unfeeling 
fashion swept the last vestige of his courage 
away. 

Barbara literally held the young fellow 


A Prison and a Prisoner 


103 


in her arms while he shook as if with ague. 
Then he sobbed as if the crying tore at his 
throat. 

Barbara made no effort not to cry with 
him. She kept murmuring little broken 
French phrases of endearment which she 
had learned from her year’s work in France, 
all the time patting the boy’s shoulder. 

He was a splendidly built young fellow 
with a broad chest and strong young arms. 
Even his injury and the confinement had 
not broken his physical strength. This 
made the thought of his affliction even 
harder to bear, to think that so much fine 
vigor must be lost from the world’s work. 

‘H don’t believe it is true that you are 
going to be blind forever,” Barbara whis- 
pered, as soon as she could find her voice. 
She had no real reason for her statement, 
except that the boy must be comforted for 
the moment. But he had covered up his 
eyes as though the light hurt them, and 
if he were totally blind neither light nor 
darkness would matter. 

Dr. Mason had at once crossed the room 
to talk to another patient. But at the 


104 


In Belgium 


sound of sobbing, he had turned to find 
his companion. 

Certainly Barbara was entirely uncon- 
scious of the charming picture she made. 
She was so tiny, and yet it was her strength 
and her sympathy at this moment that 
were actually supporting the young soldier. 

Never before had the young American 
physician looked closely at Barbara. Now 
he wondered how he could ever have 
believed her anything but pretty. Her 
white forehead was wrinkled with almost 
motherly sympathy. Then even while her 
eyes overflowed, her red lips took a deter- 
mined line. 

With a glance over her shoulder she 
summoned the physician. 

‘‘Please tell this boy you will do every- 
thing in your power to see that his eyes 
are looked after before it is too late,” 
she pleaded. Then she stood up, still 
with her hand on the young Frenchman’s 
shoulder. 

“I am a Red Cross nurse. This is Dr. 
Mason, one of the surgeons who is giving 
his services to the American hospital in 


A Prison and a Prisoner 


105 


Brussels,” she explained to the boy, who 
had by this time managed to regain control 
of himself. ‘‘Miss Winifred Holt is coming 
over from New York just to look after the 
soldiers whose eyes have been injured in 
this war,” Barbara continued. “Besides, 
I know there are eye specialists here who 
must be able to do something for you.” 
Barbara’s tone each instant grew more re- 
assuring. “I am sure Dr. Mason and I will 
both persuade the prison officers to let 
you have the best of care. They are sure 
to be willing to have us do all that is 
possible for you.” 

By this time the young fellow had 
straightened himself up and taken hold of 
Barbara’s other hand. 

“You are more than kind,” he answered, 
speaking with the peculiar courtesy of the 
French, “but it is useless! A shell exploded 
too near my face. No matter, it is all in 
the day’s business! I was only thinking 
of my mother and our little farmhouse in 
Provence and of the French girl, Nicolete, 
who used to dance before our soldiers.” 

Suddenly Barbara smelt the odor of pinks 


106 


In Belgium 


and mignonette. For odors are more 
intimately associated with one’s memories 
than any other of the senses. Then the 
next moment Barbara saw Eugenia and 
herself standing near the opening of a 
trench in southern France. As usual, they 
were arguing. But they were interrupted 
by a French soldier boy, who stood beside 
them holding out a small bunch of flowers. 
He had light hair and big blue eyes and 
rosy cheeks like a girl’s. 

“Monsieur Bebe,” Barbara whispered. 

Relieved that Dr. Mason and the German 
nurse had both been called to attend to 
another patient, Barbara now climbed 
up on the cot and sat beside the French 
boy. 

“I want to tell you something that no 
one else must hear,” she went on, lowering 
her voice until it was as mysterious as 
possible. 

“You do not know it, but you and I are 
old friends. At least, we have met before, 
and that is enough to make us friends in 
war times. Besides, you once gave me a 
bouquet. Do you remember two Red 


A Prison and a Prisoner 


107 


Cross nurses to whom you gave some 
flowers that you and the other soldiers had 
made grow in the mouth of your trench? 
Then afterwards we both watched Nicolete 
dance and you threw her a spray of mignon- 
ette?” 

‘^Yes, yes,” the boy answered, clutch- 
ing now at Barbara’s skirt as if she were a 
real link with his own beloved land. ^‘It is 
the good God who has sent you here to 
help me. You will write my mother and 
say things are well with me. It will be 
time enough for her to hear the truth if 
I ever go home.” 

‘‘You are going to get well, but if you 
don’t you shall at least go home,” Bar- 
bara returned resolutely. “The Germans 
are exchanging prisoners, you know. But 
I have another secret to tell you if you 
will promise not to tell.” 

The boy, who had been crying like a 
cruelly hurt child the moment before, was 
now smiling almost happily. Barbara 
could be a little witch when she chose. 

She put her own curly brown head in 
its white nurse’s cap down close beside the 
boy’s blond one. 


108 


In Belgium 


“What would you give to have that 
same little French girl, Nicolete, talk to 
you some day not very far off?” she whis- 
pered. Then she told the story of Nico- 
lete’s coming into Belgium with Eugenia 
and of her living not far away in the house 
which Eugenia had taken. But she also 
made the boy promise not to breathe to 
any one the fact of Nicolete’s identity. 
She was not supposed to be a French girl,, 
but a little Belgian maid under the pro- 
tection of a wealthy but eccentric Ameri- 
can Red Cross nurse. 

By the time Barbara had finished this 
conversation she was compelled to hurry 
away. But she promised to come again 
to the prison as soon as she was allowed. 
Dr. Mason needed her help. 

There was far more work to be done 
than he expected. For the next two hours- 
Barbara assisted in putting on bandages, 
in washing ugly places with antiseptic 
dressings, in doing a dozen difficult tasks. 

Nevertheless, whenever Dr. Mason had 
a chance to glance toward his assistant she 
managed to smile back at him. It was a 


A Prison and a Prisoner 


109 


trick Barbara had when nursing. It was 
never a silly or an unsympathetic smile. 
It merely expressed her own readiness to 
meet the situation as cheerfully as possible. 

But before the afternoon’s work was 
over the young American doctor had be- 
come convinced that she was the pluckiest 
little girl he had ever worked with. What 
was more, she was one of the prettiest. 

However, though the nurse and doctor 
were both worn out when their service for 
the day was over, they were not to be al- 
lowed to return to the hospital at once. 
The German officer in command still in- 
sisted that they be shown about the prison 
building and yard. 


CHAPTER IX 


A Second Acquaintance 

B arbara did not enjoy the thought 
of being shown over the prison. For 
one thing, she was tired; another, 
she feared she would find the imprisoned 
soldiers terribly downcast. She had nursed 
among them so long she felt a deep sym- 
pathy for their misfortunes. 

Yet she discovered that the imprisoned 
soldiers go through about the same variety 
of moods as men and women engaged in 
ordinary occupations. They have their 
sad days and their cheerful days. There 
are times when the confinement and de- 
pression seem unendurable, and others 
when a letter comes from home with good 
news. Then one is immediately buoyed up. 

It was now between four and five o’clock 
on a summer’s afternoon. 

Barbara and Dr. Mason went through 
the prison hastily. There was nothing 
( 110 ) 


A Second Acquaintance 


111 


interesting in the sight of the ugly, over- 
crowded rooms; but fortunately at this 
hour most of the men were out of doors. 

So, as soon as they were allowed, the 
two Americans gladly followed the German 
commandant out into the fresh air. They 
had not been permitted to talk to the pris- 
oners and Dr. Mason had made no such 
effort. It was merely through the courtesy 
of the German commandant that the 
American physician and nurse were given 
the privilege of visiting the ill prisoners. 
Therefore, Dr. Mason considered it a part 
of his duty not to break any of the prison 
rules. 

But Barbara, being a woman, had no 
such proper respect for authority. When- 
ever the others were not looking she had 
frequently managed to speak a few words. 

But she breathed better when they were 
again outdoors. It had been hot and sultry 
inside the prison, but now a breeze was 
blowing, stirring the leaves of the solitary 
tree in the prison yard to a gentle mur- 
muring. 

Underneath this tree was a group of a 


112 


In Belgium 


dozen or more soldiers. Some of them 
were smoking cherished pipes, while others 
were reading letters, yellow and dirty from 
frequent handling. 

The International Red Cross had done 
its best to secure humane treatment for 
all the war prisoners in Europe. For this 
purpose there is a Bureau of Prisoners, 
having its headquarters in Geneva, Switzer- 
land. They have sent forth a petition to 
the various governments at war, asking 
among other things that prisoners be al- 
lowed to receive money, letters and pack- 
ages from their friends. These last must 
of course be carefully censored, and yet 
they keep life from growing unendurably 
dull. Think of long weeks and months 
going past with never a line from the out- 
side world ! 

Barbara studied the faces of the im- 
prisoned men closely. With all her ex- 
periences as a war nurse it chanced she 
had never before seen any number of pris- 
oners. Now and then a few of them had 
passed her, being marched along the Belgian 
roads to the measure of the German goose 
step. 


A Second Acquaintance 


113 


Now she managed to bow to the men 
resting under the tree and they returned 
her greeting in the friendliest fashion. 
Every Red Cross nurse is a soldier's friend. 
Yet in the character of an ordinary girl 
Barbara would have been almost as cor- 
dially received. She looked so natural 
and so human. Somehow one recalled 
once again the vision of “the girl one had 
left behind.” 

But Barbara was not to linger inside the 
prison yard. As the day was nearing its 
close the men who had been working in the 
fields were to return. The German com- 
mandant wished Dr. Mason to see how 
well his prisoners looked. 

Surrounding the prison was a high stone 
wall. In the rear of this yard was a wide 
gate which could be swung back on hinges, 
allowing a half dozen men to be herded 
through at the same time. 

So Dr. Mason and Barbara were escorted 
outside the prison wall and given chairs to 
await the marching past of the soldiers. 

Barbara sat down gratefully enough. 
But when five or ten minutes passed and 


8 


114 


In Belgium 


nothing happened she found herself grow- 
ing bored. Dr. Mason could not talk to 
her. The German officer was discoursing 
so earnestly in his own language that it 
was plain the American physician had to 
devote all his energies to the effort to un- 
derstand him. 

So by and by, when neither of the men 
was observing her, Barbara got up and 
strolled a few paces away. There was little 
to see except the stretch of much-traveled 
road. The fields where the prisoners were 
at work were more than a mile away. 

But the girl’s attention was arrested by 
an unmistakable sound. It was the noise 
of the imprisoned soldiers being marched 
back to their jail. The tread was slow 
and dead, without animation or life. It 
was as if the men had been engaged in 
tasks in which they had little concern and 
were being returned to a place they hated. 

Barbara stood close to the edge of the 
road along which the men must pass. She 
was naturally not thinking of herself. So 
it had not occurred to her that the soldiers 
might be surprised by her unexpected ap- 
pearance. 


A Second Acquaintance 


115 


She was frowning and her blue eyes were 
wide open with excitement. She had left 
her nurse’s coat thrown over the back of 
her chair. So she wore her American Red 
Cross uniform, whose white and crimson 
made a spot of bright color in the late 
afternoon’s light. 

A young French soldier in the first line 
of prisoners chanced to catch Barbara’s 
eye. She smiled at him, half wistful and 
half friendly. Instantly the young fellow’s 
hand went up to his cap, as he offered her 
the salute a soldier pays his superior officer. 

Then the prisoners were all seized with 
the same idea at the same time. For as 
each line of soldiers, with their guards on 
either side, passed the spot where Barbara 
was standing, every hand rose in salute. 

The girl was deeply touched. But she 
was not alone in this feeling. The Ameri- 
can physician had a husky sensation in 
his throat and his glasses became suddenly 
blurred. The German commandant of 
the prison said ‘^A-hum, a-hum,” in an 
unnecessarily loud tone. 

There was nothing in the spectacle of 


116 


In Belgium 


the girl herself being thus honored by the 
imprisoned men that was particularly af- 
fecting. The truth was it was not Barbara 
who was being saluted, but the uniform 
she wore, the white ground with its cross 
of crimson. In a world of hate and con- 
fusion and sometimes of despair the Red 
Cross still commands universal respect. 

Barbara could not see distinctly the 
faces of the soldiers. She recognized them 
to be both French and English and of 
various ages and ranks. But there were 
too many of them and they moved too 
rapidly to study the individual faces. How- 
ever, as the men finally entered the prison 
gate the line halted a moment. Then 
something must have occurred to delay 
them still more. Six or eight rows of men 
were compelled to stand at attention. 

One of the guards near Barbara moved 
ahead to find out what caused the ob- 
struction. This was Barbara’s chance to 
get a good look at the soldiers. So she 
began with the one in the line directly 
opposite her. 

The young man was undeniably an 


A Second Acquaintance 


117 


Englishman. He was about six feet tall 
and as lean as possible without illness. 
He wore no hat and his hair was tawny as 
the hay he had just been cutting. More- 
over, his eyes were the almost startling 
blue that one only sees with a bronzed 
skin. 

He did not look unhappy or bored, but 
extremely wide awake and ‘‘fit,’’ as the 
English say. Besides this, he seemed 
enormously interested in Barbara. Ob- 
viously the young soldier was a gentleman, 
and yet equally obvious was the fact that 
he was staring. 

All at once Barbara moved forward a 
few steps until she was nearer the prisoner 
than she should have been. This was 
because she had seen him somewhere before 
but could not for the moment recall his 
name. 

“Lieutenant Hume!” Barbara exclaimed 
suddenly under her breath. “I am sorry; 
I did not know you were a prisoner!” 

The young soldier did not move a muscle 
in his face, yet his eyes answered the girl 
with sufficient eloquence. 


118 


In Belgium 


There was not a second to be lost. Bar- 
bara knew the prisoner was not allowed 
to speak to her. Also she was not expected 
to speak to him. But she had an unlooked- 
for chance to say a few words, and what 
feminine person would have failed to seize 
the opportunity! 

^‘We are nursing here in Brussels, all 
of us,’’ she went on rapidly, keeping as 
careful a lookout as possible. ‘‘The other 
girls will be grieved to hear of your bad 
luck. If possible, would you like one of 
us to write you.^” 

For half a second Lieutenant Hume’s 
rigidity relaxed. Yet once again his answer 
was in the look he flashed at the girl. Then 
next the order came. The soldiers were 
marched inside the prison and the gate 
swung to. 

Immediately after Barbara and Dr. 
Mason started back to the hospital. 

Really, Barbara felt ashamed of herself, 
she was such an extiaordinarily dull com- 
panion during the return journey. But 
she was both tired and excited. 

What an extraordinary experience to 


A Second Acquaintance 


119 


have spent a few hours at a German prison 
and to have discovered two acquaintances. 
True, poor Monsieur Bebe was scarcely 
an acquaintance, yet she had seen and 
spoken to him before. As for Lieuten- 
ant Hume, he was almost a friend. At 
least, he had been a friend of Nona’s. She 
would be grieved to hear of his misfortune 
and no doubt would try to be kind to him 
if it were possible. 

As for Barbara, she meant to devote her 
energies to doing what she could for the 
young Frenchman. If he were totally 
blind, surely the German authorities might 
be persuaded to exchange him for one of 
their own men, should proper interest be 
shown in his case. As soon as possible 
Barbara decided she would go and consult 
Eugenia. She would be sure to have some 
intelligent suggestion to make. 

Barbara and Dr. Mason said farewell to 
each other outside the hospital front door, 
as the man had other work before him. 

Just as he was leaving the girl slipped 
her small hand inside his. 

have had a more interesting after- 


120 


In Belgium 


noon than you realize,” she insisted, ‘‘and 
thank you for taking me with you. I am 
sorry that I have been such a tiresome 
companion on our way home.” 

The young man smiled down upon the 
tired little nurse. The fact that she was 
a nurse struck him as an absurdity, as it 
did almost every one else. 

“You have been a perfect trump. Miss 
Meade, and if anybody is to blame it is I, 
for taking you upon such a fatiguing ex- 
pedition. Will you go with me upon a 
more cheerful excursion some day?” 

Barbara nodded. Dr. Mason was look- 
ing at her with the frankest admiration 
and friendship. It was good to be admired 
and liked. Then she turned and disap- 
peared inside the big hospital door. 

Dr. Mason continued to think of her 
until he reached the house of his next 
patient. 


CHAPTER X 

A Discussion, not an Argument 

'1 'A UT very probably you were mis- 
taken in thinking it was Lieuten- 
ant Hume,” Nona announced. 
‘H am sure he had not been taken prisoner 
when we left France.” 

Barbara raised herself on one elbow in 
her small bed and answered irritably: 

most certainly was not mistaken, 
Nona Davis. I ought to know Robert 
Hume perfectly well after our meeting in 
Paris and his visit at the chateau. Be- 
sides, though he dared not speak, he showed 
that he recognized me. I even promised 
him that you would write him a note to 
the prison if it were possible. ^ Then 
Barbara relaxed and sank down on her 
pillow again. 

She and Nona and Mildred were in her 
small room at the hospital. It was time 
for them all to have been in bed and asleep, 
( 121 ) 


i22 


In Belgium 


since they chanced not to be engaged in 
night nursing. But Barbara had retired 
early, as she was extremely tired. Then, 
some time after, Nona and Mildred had 
crept in to find out what had become of 
her. They had missed her during the 
afternoon, but had not known of her ex- 
pedition with Dr. Mason. 

Now Nona looked annoyed. 

‘‘What an extraordinary thing, Barbara, 
for you to promise! I am sure I see no 
reason in the world why I should write 
Lieutenant Hume. We are only acquaint- 
ances. Of course, I am sorry to know he 
is in hard luck. But for me to begin writ- 
ing him under the circumstances would 
look as if we were intimate friends.” 

Barbara slipped her arms up over her 
head, making a kind of oval frame for her 
face. 

Nona and Mildred were seated on either 
side the foot of her bed. 

“I think you are absurd, Nona,” she 
commented, in the frank fashion which was 
not always either advisable or pleasant. 
“I really don’t believe I did say you would 


A Discussion 


123 


write, only that one of us would. Natu- 
rally, I thought as you knew Lieutenant 
Hume best you would prefer it. I don’t 
consider he would think you were being 
too friendly with him. He is too much of 
a gentleman. He would understand that 
you were sorry for his hard luck and pitied 
his loneliness. I wonder if it was because 
you were brought up in the south that you 
are so conventional? You don’t seem to 
be so all the time, only when it suits you. 
I am sure I will write the note to Lieuten- 
ant Hume with pleasure if I find he is al- 
lowed to receive letters except from his 
family.” 

Evidently Barbara was in a mood when 
It made but little difference to her whether 
or not she made Nona Davis angry. Yet 
she and Nona had once seemed to be 
devoted to each other and appeared to be 
friendly now. 

Nona, however, was not given to quarrel- 
ing. So, although she flushed uncomfort- 
ably, she made no immediate answer. 

Mildred, however, broke into the con- 
versation hastily. 


124 


In Belgium 


‘‘Well, you did have an extraordinarily 
Interesting afternoon, Barbara, though it 
must have been a trying one. I confess 
Nona and Dick and I were all hurt when 
we found you had gone out without even 
speaking of your intention. We have asked 
you to go with us any number of times. 
Dick said he did not suppose you knew 
any one in the hospital well enough to have 
accepted an invitation. 

At this Barbara rose up to a half-sitting 
position, still with her arm-encircled head 
leaning against her pile of pillows. 

“Was Dick here this afternoon.^” she 
inquired, wondering within herself why she 
felt pleased over Dick’s hearing of her de- 
parture. 

“Oh, he only stopped by for a moment 
to bring Nona a book,” Mildred added. 
“I just chanced to see them as I was pass- 
ing by in the hall. But you look very 
tired, Barbara. Would you like Nona and 
me to leave you.^ You can tell us more 
of your experiences another time. But I 
advise you to ask Dick if he can make any 
suggestions about the poor little Frenchman. 


A Discussion 


125 


Monsieur Bebe sounds so pathetic. You 
know Dick may have something worth while 
to propose. He is doing such splendid work 
with the Relief Committee.” 

Barbara patted Mildred’s hand gently 
and, it must be confessed, a little conde- 
scendingly. 

‘‘You are apt to think Dick does every- 
thing well. Mill, aren’t you,” she announced, 
whether it is looking after the starving 
Belgians or leading a dance in a ball room? 
Still, I don’t think I shall trouble him. I 
have a plan of my own in mind for the 
boy and I am going out to see Eugenia 
to ask if she thinks it feasible. Then if 
she thinks it is, I shall go ahead and see 
what can be accomplished.” 

“And leave all of us completely in the 
dark,” Nona added. “I must confess, 
Barbara, I don’t think it kind of you to 
speak to Mildred about Dick in such a 
superior, almost scornful, fashion. In the 
last few weeks we have both been aware 
that you did not care to be intimate with 
us. But whatever we may have done, I 
can’t see how Dick Thornton can have 


126 


In Belgium 


merited your disapproval. I don’t believe 
you have even seen him alone.” 

Barbara’s cheeks flared. ^‘And I v/onder 
how you formed that opinion, Nona ? How- 
ever, it strikes me as none of your business.” 

The instant Barbara had made this 
speech she was sorry. One was always 
at a disadvantage in a quarrel with Nona 
Davis. For Nona never for a moment 
forgot her dignity or breeding. She was 
white now, while Barbara was crimson. 
Her lips were curling a little scornfully, 
but she answered quietly, ‘‘I am sorry to 
have made you angry; that was not my 
intention.” 

However, in spite of her apology, the 
younger girl remained absurdly aggrieved. 
Yet she had the grace to turn to Mildred. 

‘H am sure you understand, Mildred, 
that I never intended to be disagreeable 
about Dick. You must know that I admire 
him very much.” 

Mildred leaned over and deliberately 
pinched Barbara’s flushed cheeks. 
know you are a little goose,” she asserted, 
'To be quarreling with Nona as though 
you were two badly brought up children.” 


A Discussion 


127 


But Barbara was not to be appeased. 
She made no answer, and the next moment 
Nona slipped off the bed and knelt on the 
floor beside her. 

‘‘What is the matter, Bab? What is 
it that has been making you feel and be- 
have so differently toward me lately? If 
I have been to blame in any way I apolo- 
gize with all my heart. I confess I was 
absurd about Lieutenant Hume. I liked 
him very much the few times we met. I 
might at least be willing to do the poor 
fellow a kindness when he is in hard luck. 
But you see, he does not belong to a very 
good family in England. Though he be- 
haves like a gentleman, after all he is only 
a gardener’s son.” 

It was not Barbara who interrupted this 
time, but Mildred Thornton. 

“That is nonsense, Nona,” she protested. 
“I have heard you say something of that 
kind two or three times. Anyone who 
has traveled in the least knows that no 
gardener’s son in England is educated as 
Lieutenant Hume is, nor has such perfectly 
self-possessed manners. Besides, he is a 
lieutenant.” 


128 


In Belgium 


Nona shook her head. “Yes, I know 
it does sound impossible,” she returned. 
‘‘But Lieutenant Hume told me himself 
that he was the son of the gardener when 
I first met him in Surrey. He was at home 
then, recovering from a wound in the leg 
and was lying asleep near the gardener’s 
cottage. It has often struck me as queer 
since, but I have worked it all out. Lieu- 
tenant Hume must have been educated 
by some one who considered him unusual. 
And commissions have been given in the 
British army in this war for merit as well 
as for family reasons.” 

But Nona was evidently weary of the 
subject of the young English lieutenant. 
She had remained kneeling on the floor 
and she now took hold of Barbara’s some- 
what limp hand in a very sweet fashion. 

“But you haven’t said what the trouble 
is between us, Bab, or whether you are 
willing to forgive me?” she continued. 
“I should feel very unhappy if anything 
serious interrupted our friendship. Eu- 
genia seems so far away these days and I 
don’t believe she is anxious to have us 
come to see her often.” 


A Discussion 


129 


‘‘Oh, Eugenia is busy,” Barbara answered 
carelessly. “But it is all right, Nona; of 
course I am not angry with you. I was 
vexed for a moment, but I expect that was 
because I am tired. It is ridiculous to 
suggest that there could be any serious 
trouble between us.” 

To the best of her ability Barbara tried 
to speak with sincerity. Nona looked 
exquisitely pretty and appealing as she 
knelt beside her. One would have for- 
given her almost any offense. Yet Bar- 
bara could not truthfully convince herself 
that Nona had committed an offense against 
her. Nevertheless, she did not feel a re- 
turn of her affection, although she struggled 
to have her manner at least appear un- 
changed. 

But Nona was conscious of the differ- 
ence, for she rose Immediately to her feet. 

“I am sorry we disturbed you tonight 
when you were so tired,” she said, holding 
her chin just a little higher than usual. 
There was no change in the soft inflections 
of her voice. “Good night.” 

Then Nona left the room without look- 


130 


In Belgium 


ing back. But Mildred stopped to kiss 
Barbara. ‘‘You haven’t been any too 
nice to me either, Mistress Barbara,” she 
asserted. “If you don’t reform I shall 
tell Dick and make him find out the reason 
why.” 

Of course Mildred made this speech 
without in the least meaning it. Never- 
theless, after both girls had left the room 
and she should have been asleep, Barbara 
remembered. She sincerely hoped that 
Mildred would not be so tiresome as to 
tell Dick of their personal differences. But 
what was the root of the trouble between 
her and her two former friends? 

For the life of her Barbara could not 
decide. Or, if at the depth of her heart 
she knew, she was not brave enough to 
confess the truth to herself. 


CHAPTER XI 


Monsieur Bebe 

O NE sultry August afternoon Bar- 
bara went again to see Eugenia. 
This time she went alone. 
According to his usual custom Bibo met 
her at the end of the car line with his ancient 
horse. Owing to his lameness perhaps, he 
was head coachman to Eugenia’s estab- 
lishment, which Barbara still insisted upon 
calling ‘‘L’ Hotel des Enfants.” 

Bibo was looking extremely well. He 
had on long trousers of blue cotton and a 
blue cotton smock with a round collar. 
He had lost the frightened, starved look 
which Barbara remembered seeing on the 
evening of his rescue. The boy’s face was 
round, there was a dimple in one corner 
of his brown cheek. His eyes were serene 
save for his sense of responsibility as Bar- 
bara’s escort. 

It is true that Bibo’s mother was still 
( 131 ) 


6 


132 


In Belgium 


held a prisoner in Brussels because of an 
act of disrespect to a German officer. But 
children’s memories do not harass them 
so long as they are happy. 

“How are things going, Bibo.^” Bar- 
bara asked in French, as soon as she was 
seated beside her driver. Fortunately, 
French was the language of Eugenia’s 
Belgium family rather than Flemish. 

Bibo first flapped his reins and then 
nodded enthusiastically. Words at the 
moment appeared to fail him, although 
he was usually voluble. 

“Then Gene is well.^” Barbara con- 
tinued. For after many difficulties Eu- 
genia had acquired this informal title. In 
the beginning the children had struggled 
nobly with her name, but Miss Peabody 
was too much for them. Then “Miss 
Eugenia” was equally difficult for little 
Belgian tongues, so it became Madame 
Gene. Later, since Eugenia did not enjoy 
being called Madame, nor was she more 
fond of Mademoiselle, her name attained 
its simplest form among the younger chil- 
dren. 


Monsieur Bebe 


133 


But Eugenia was Bibo’s altar saint and 
he was not inclined to take liberties. 
Saint Gene she had been to him in truth! 

‘‘She is well,” he answered briefly. Then 
he allowed his round eyes to leave his 
horse and turn ecstatically toward Barbara. 

“In a few days my mother is to be with 
us. She wrote that she need stay no longer 
in prison and that she wished to see me, 
but alas, there was no place for us to go! 
Our home near Louvain was burned and 
my father — ” The tones of the boy’s 
voice expressed his uncertainty of his 
father’s fate. “But my friend has written 
that my mother may come to our home; 
she will help us look after the other chil- 
dren. All will be well!” 

Bibo’s tone was so grown-up and he 
was so evidently quoting Eugenia that his 
companion smiled. But the smile was 
because Bibo could not possibly under- 
stand how one could cry over good news. 
How big was Eugenia’s house and her 
sympathy these days.^ Certainly she 
seemed to wish it to include all who needed 
her help. 


134 


In Belgium 


‘‘And Monsieur Bebe?” Barbara next 
queried. “Does he appear more cheerful 
since I left him with you a week ago.^’’ 

The boy hesitated a little. “He laughed 
twice this morning and he sits all day in 
the sun and smiles now and then when 
Nicolete is beside him. But no one can 
be cheerful and blind. 

This was spoken with conviction. Of 
his own affliction Bibo seldom thought, 
but indeed his lameness troubled him very 
little now. He could run and walk almost 
as well as the other boys. It had been 
hard at first, for until the day when their 
house had burned and they had been 
forced to escape, he had been exactly like 
other boys. But he had been stupid then 
and fallen. There had been no time to 
heal the hurt in his leg, so Bibo must 
hobble as best he might through an indif- 
ferent world. 

But Barbara seemed extraordinarily well 
pleased by her companion’s information. 
Poor Monsieur Bebe had been so far from 
smiling even once during his weeks in the 
prison hospital. And Barbara felt that she 


Monsieur Bebe 


135 


could claim some of the credit along with 
Eugenia for his release and better fortune. 

Soon after her visit to the prison she 
had secured a prominent surgeon to go 
and look at the young Frenchman’s eyes. 
The man could offer him little comfort. 
There was every chance that Monsieur 
Bebe, whose name was Reney, must con- 
tinue blind. A little hope he might have, 
but hope was not encouragement. 

In the depression that followed this an- 
nouncement Barbara did her best to help 
the boy. But it was plain to his fellow 
prisoners and to the prison officers that the 
news had broken his health and spirit. He 
had no wish to live. He would not eat 
and after a time made no effort to get out 
of bed. He would lie all day without 
speaking, but rarely uttering a complaint. 

Everybody was sorry for him, the big 
German nurse, the German guards, even 
the commandant of the prison. It w'as 
one thing to kill an enemy in the passion 
of battle, but another to see a boy, who had 
done one no personal harm, slowly passing 
away in darkness. 


136 


In Belgium 


So when Barbara came to the German 
commandant with her plea for his prison- 
er’s parole, he was willing to listen to her. 

‘‘What possible harm could be done if 
Monsieur Bebe, in reality Albert Reney, 
be transferred to Eugenia’s home in the 
woods She had offered the French boy 
shelter and care. He would make no 
effort to escape, but even if he should, 
a blind man could never again fight for 
his country. Moreover, Germany was 
arranging with the Allies for an exchange 
of blind prisoners. It was possible that 
Monsieur Reney might later on be sent 
home.” 

Eugenia was waiting this time near the 
place where Barbara was compelled to 
descend from Bibo’s wagon. She had only 
one of her children with her, which was 
unusual, since she ordinarily went about 
with five or six. But Jan and Bibo were 
her two shadows. They were marked con- 
trasts, since Bibo was so plainly a little 
son of the Belgian soil, the child and grand- 
child of farmers. Jan came of the men and 
women who have lived among pictures and 


Monsieur Bebe 


137 


books and helped make the history of his 
now tragic land. 

The boy Jan was so instinctively a gentle- 
man that, although he was not ten years 
old, he immediately upon Barbara’s arrival 
slipped behind the two friends. For his 
happiness’ sake he wished to keep his eyes 
fastened upon his Gene, but he must not 
be close enough to overhear conversation 
that would not be intended for him. 

Eugenia took Barbara’s face between her 
beautiful, firm hands and gazed at her 
closely. Although in the first instant she 
saw that the girl wore the same look of 
the past few weeks, she said nothing. 
Only she put her arm about her as they 
walked toward the house. 

Barbara did not feel like talking at first. 
She had been coming every week recently 
to the house in the woods and the visits 
always rested her. It did not seem pos- 
sible that a few months could make so 
great a change as they had in Eugenia. 
One could scarcely have recognized her 
as the same girl who set sail from New 
York City a little more than a year before. 


138 


In Belgium 


But she was also changed from the girl 
who had crossed over from France earlier 
in the summer. In spite of her respon- 
sibilities Eugenia had grown ever so much 
larger; all the angular curves were gone, 
her. chin was softly rounded. Beneath 
her pallor there was now a soft glow of 
pink, and best of all, the severe lines about 
her mouth had almost completely vanished. 
They could return if she were displeased, 
but the children rarely saw them. 

“Something very worth while has come 
to you. Gene,” Barbara whispered. “I 
wish you felt you could tell me what it is. 
Is it because you enjoy looking after the 
Belgian children.^” 

Eugenia nodded. “It is that and some- 
thing else, but I don’t feel that I can ever 
explain to any one.” 

Then Barbara and Eugenia were inter- 
rupted by two persons coming toward 
them from the opposite direction. 

One was a splendid, big blond fellow 
whose eyes were bandaged. Fie was being 
led by a girl of about , sixteen with jet-black 
hair which she wore short to her shoulders. 


Monsieur Bebe 


139 


She had dark eyes and crimson lips. Nico- 
lete’s costume and manner had both 
changed since her departure from France. 
But it was not possible to change the vivid 
coloring of her face. 

Both the girl and boy were chattering 
rapidly, and both of them seemed happier 
than Barbara had lately seen them. 

‘‘The truth is all French people are 
homesick outside of their beloved France,’’ 
Barbara thought to herself. “So it must 
be a consolation to have a fellow country- 
man for a companion.” 

But Monsieur Bebe was tremendously 
pleased to hear Barbara’s voice. He asked 
her to take his hand and lead him back 
to his chair in the garden before the once 
deserted house. There, as a small chair 
chanced to be beside his, Barbara sat down. 
Then Nicolete and Eugenia went away to 
prepare tea. 

Monsieur Bebe did his best to express 
his thanks to Barbara and he had the 
Frenchman’s grace and choice of words. 
He was of course still desperately sad over 
his affliction, but m.eant if possible to meet 


140 


In Belgium 


it like a man. He had been willing to 
die for his country, but perhaps it took 
more courage to go on living for her. Miss 
Peabody had promised that as soon as 
possible he should begin to learn a trade. 

After a quarter of an hour’s talk Barbara 
felt in better spirits than she had on her 
arrival. Perhaps this was the secret with 
Eugenia. She was feeling that she was 
being useful to some one. It might help 
heal another kind of hurt. Certainly Bar- 
bara could feel that her interest in the 
young Frenchman had been worth while. 

The two friends saw little of each other 
during the rest of the afternoon. But this 
was the usual thing and Barbara did not 
mind. She continued to stay out in the 
yard, sometimes watching the children play 
and at other times leading the games herself. 

Eugenia came and went, now and then 
stopping for a few words of conversation. 
“Louise,” the maid, rarely appeared. In all 
Barbara’s visits she and “Louise” had not 
exchanged a dozen sentences. Indeed, it 
was self-evident that the woman did not 
wish to be noticed. Barbara respected her 
desire. 


Monsieur Bebe 


141 


However, she understood perfectly by 
this time that ‘‘Louise’* was not a ser- 
vant, but some one who was living in 
Eugenia’s house in order to conceal ‘her- 
self and her children. Jan had forgotten 
instructions and several times spoken to 
“Louise” as mother. There was also a 
little girl who was with her the greater 
part of the time. 

But Barbara asked no more questions. 
So far no trouble had come from Eugenia’s 
kindness. Perhaps this “Louise” was a 
person of no especial importance, whom 
the German authorities would not take the 
trouble to seek. 

Of the person behind the locked door, 
nothing more had been seen or heard. 
Only Barbara had never been allowed to go 
into that particular room. 

None of these things were troubling her 
this afternoon. Possibly she might try 
and talk them over with Eugenia later, 
although she really did not expect to. 
But she meant to stay all night and 
Eugenia had promised to spend an hour 
or so before bedtime alone with her. 


142 


In Belgium 


It was a marvelous August night with 
the most perfect moon of the year. 

The day had been hot, but the coolness 
came, as it nearly always does, toward 
evening. Nevertheless, Eugenia and Bar- 
bara decided to leave the house for a short 
walk. There was little chance for privacy 
indoors, as every room was now occupied 
and Eugenia had been compelled to take 
Nicolete in with her. 

So at about nine o’clock, when most 
of the members of the household had 
retired, Eugenia and her guest started out. 
Eugenia wore a dark red sweater and cap 
and Barbara white ones, which she kept 
in the country for the purpose. 

Neither girl intended to go far from 
home. Eugenia’s house was in a com- 
paratively deserted part of the countryside. 
There were no other places near. But 
for that very reason in case of difficulty 
there would be no one to offer aid. 

To the left of Eugenia's was a big, 
uncultivated field. On the other side was 
-the woods with the path which connected 
with her yard. The children often played 


Monsieur Bebe 


143 


In the woods near by, but in taking a walk 
persons were compelled to follow the trav- 
eled path. If one wandered away for any 
distance there was danger of getting lost. 
Not that the woods were particularly 
thick, but because they had been neglected 
and underbrush had grown up between the 
trees. 

Therefore, as soon as the two girls walked 
the length of their yard they turned into 
the usual path. The woods were in reality 
only another portion of the abandoned 
estate. The moonlight was so bright that 
the path looked like a strip of white rib- 
bon ahead. Then, though the foliage of 
the trees made beautiful, dense shadows, 
one could see distinctly in between them. 


CHAPTER XII 


The Ghost 

HE girls had been talking over cer- 



tain details in connection with the 


management of Eugenia’s estab- 
lishment. She found it extremely difficult 
to buy provisions. But neither one of 
them was giving thought to what she said. 

It was Eugenia, however, who offered 
the interruption. 

“Please let’s don’t talk about things 
that are of no importance, Bab, when I 
see you so seldom,” she protested. “Tell 
me, please, about Dick Thornton and Mil- 
dred and Nona. Dick and Nona were 
out here a few moments the other day, 
but I had no chance to have any conversa- 
tion with them. I thought they both 
looked extraordinarily well to be working 
so hard. I never believed Nona as strong 
as you, Barbara, so why do you seem so 
used up.^ Is your work at the hospital 
more difficult than hers?” 


( 144 ) 


The Ghost 


145 


‘‘Certainly not,” the other girl answered. 
“Really, Eugenia, I don’t think it kind 
of you, or of other people, to keep on telling 
me I don’t look well. I have assured you 
a dozen times I am all right. If you con- 
tinue suggesting the other thing I shall 
probably fall ill. But Nona and Dick do 
seem well and cheerful, and so is Mildred 
for that matter. I think it is because 
they are all very happy over something. 
No one has spoken of it to me so I am only 
guessing. But it is true, isn’t it, Eugenia, 
that if one is happy oneself, it is not hard 
to bear the sufferings of other people.^ Yet 
it seems to me that Belgium is scarcely 
the place to make one cheerful.” 

Instead of replying Eugenia laughed. 
The cynicism in Barbara’s tone was so 
unlike her. Yet one could realize that 
she did not mean to be disagreeable. Really 
she was confused and needed information. 

“Oh, I suppose one’s own happiness is 
of chief importance,” Eugenia finally re- 
turned. “It isn’t human to expect people 
to be utterly wretched over others’ sor- 
rows. One can be sympathetic, of course, 


10 


146 


In Belgium 


and depressed now and then, but that is 
about all.” 

Then they walked on a few yards in 
silence before the older girl added: 

‘‘Are you speaking of the same thing, 
Bab, that we discussed one night in the 
moonlight a good many weeks ago? I 
believe it was the first evening after Dick 
Thornton arrived in Brussels? Because 
if you are, I still don't agree with you. 
Of course, I have been separated from the 
rest of you most of the time lately, yet I 
don’t think I am mistaken. What makes 
you believe as you do, Barbara?” 

The older girl put this question in as 
careless a tone as possible. Then, although 
she and her companion were walking arm 
in arm, she did not glance toward her. She 
did not even try to get an impression of 
her expression in the moonlight. 

Barbara shrugged her shoulders. “There 
are many signs, Eugenia, and they cannot 
always be defined. But I don’t think you 
would ever see or understand them.” 

The slighting emphasis upon the pro- 
noun was unmistakable; nevertheless, Eu- 


The Ghost 


147 


genia only smiled. Once Barbara’s point 
of view might have hurt her, but tonight 
she was not thinking of herself. She had 
something else upon her mind, but was 
uncertain whether it would be wise to 
discuss the subject, or leave it still ni dark- 
ness. 

‘‘Well, perhaps you are right, Barbara,” 
she admitted. “I had a note from Nona 
yesterday, but she made no reference to 
Dick. She wanted me t6 ask you a ques- 
tion for her, which perhaps neither of us 
has the right to ask. I don’t know, it 
has worried me a good deal ” 

She stopped because Barbara had turned 
in the path and was facing her half bellig- 
erently and half affectionately 

“Don’t be a goose, Eugenia, ask mie 
anything you like. Certainly I have bored 
you enough recently with my bad tempers 
and complaints to have you say whatever 
you wish to me. It’s funny, Eugenia, but 
when we started for Europe I was sure I 
was going to like you less than any one of 
the girls. Now you are the only one I 
care very much about.” 


148 


In Belgium 


With this Barbara laughed, pretending 
that she was not altogether in earnest. 
But there was no humor in her laughter. 

Eugenia received her information gravely. 

‘‘That may be good of you, dear, but 
I don’t believe you,” she returned. “Still 
I am glad you made the remark just at 
this minute. It helps me with what I 
wish to say to you. Nona wanted me to 
find out what it was that had changed 
your feeling for her. She says she has 
done her best to discover for herself and has 
asked you to tell her, but without success. 
She seems much distressed and is anxious 
to make amends if she has injured you.” 

The older girl had to cease talking be- 
cause Barbara had pulled away and was 
walking on ahead without pretending to 
answer. 

She was being rude and was aware of 
it. But it was better to be rude than to 
have any human being discover how crim- 
son htr face had become and how her lips 
were trembling. Eugenia’s question had 
taken her so by surprise. Several weeks 
before she had gone through much the 


The Ghost 


149 


same kind of conversation with Nona and 
Mildred. But the subject had never been 
mentioned again and she hoped was hap- 
pily over. It was too stupid to have 
Nona go on dwelling upon the matter in 
this way and utterly pointless. She had 
told her that she had nothing in the world 
against her. Surely one had the right to 
one’s likes and dislikes! 

Quietly Eugenia continued after her 
guest. She made no effort to stop her, 
although she realized that they were walk- 
ing farther than they had intended. 

Finally Barbara must have appreciated 
the fact, because she stopped and turned 
around. 

‘‘Let’s go back home, I am dead tired,” 
she murmured. 

Of course Eugenia complied, and they 
continued in single file on the return jour- 
ney. 

Walking alone, Barbara once or twice 
thought that she heard some one tramping 
about in the underbrush not far away. 
But although she glanced over in that 
direction she saw no one. 


150 


In Belgium 


After five minutes more of silence Bar- 
bara caught up with Eugenia, who was 
in the lead on the way home. 

‘^Can we stop a minute somewhere, Gene, 
before we get back to the house I have 
something I want to tell you. I believe 
ril feel relieved once I have made a plain 
statement of a fact to myself as well as 
to you. And it will be easier to say it 
out here in the moonlight than in the 
light of day.” 

This time it was the older girl who hesi- 
tated. 

“You said you were tired, Bab, and it 
is getting late. Besides, I am not sure 
it is wise for us to be so far from the house 
alone.” She turned her head uneasily 
toward the left side of the woods. It was 
on the same side that Barbara had be- 
lieved she heard a noise. But at present 
she was paying no attention. 

“Please do as I ask you; a few minutes 
more cannot make any difference.” 

Then, just as they had two months be- 
fore, the girls found a fallen tree and seated 
themselves on the trunk. But Barbara 


The Ghost 


151 


turned around so that she could look 
directly at her companion. A shaft of light 
shone straight across her face. Eugenia 
could see that the characteristic little 
frown was there as well as the slight wrink- 
ling of the short, straight nose. Also that 
Barbara’s eyes were serious, although the 
expression of her mouth was partly humor- 
ous. She looked very young and charm- 
ing. Perhaps she was not so beautiful 
as many other girls. Yet she had a kind 
of mocking grace, an evanescent, will o’ 
the wisp quality that was more fascinating 
than ordinary beauty. Then beside this, 
she was so thoroughly human. 

‘‘Yes, I have a grievance against Nona, 
a perfectly dreadful one. When I told 
her I didn’t have, I just lied,” she began 
directly. “Fact of the matter is, I can’t 
forgive Nona for being more attractive 
than I am. I can’t tell her this to her 
face though, can I, Eugenia.^ Nor can I 
see exactly how I can let you tell her.” 

Barbara clasped her hands together. 
They felt very warm, although the evening 
was cool. But then her cheeks were even 


152 


In Belgium 


hotter. Nevertheless, a smile at herself, 
perhaps the best smile there is in the 
world, flickered around the corners of Bar- 
bara’s mouth. 

‘‘I know perfectly well what you are 
thinking, Eugenia. Nona has not changed 
recently. If I cannot like her now be- 
cause she is prettier and more charming 
than I am, then why did I like her at the 
beginning of our acquaintance.^ She was 
both those things then. But the fact is, 
I didn’t care then, because, because — Oh, 
why is it so hard to get it out, Gene.^ I 
don’t see why girls need always be ashamed 
of caring for people who don’t care for 
them.^ I didn’t know at first how much 
Dick Thornton was going to be interested 
in Nona Davis, nor how much I cared 
for Dick. There, the worst is out and I 
am glad of it!” 

Then Barbara dropped her chin into 
her hands and sat staring at the moon up 
over the top of the trees, waiting for her 
companion to answer. Eugenia remained 
silent. 

‘‘Are you disgusted with me, Gene?” 


The Ghost 


153 


the younger girl asked the next moment. 
^‘Goodness knows, I have been with my- 
self, though I never confessed the truth 
to any one, not even to Barbara Meade, 
until this second. I haven’t any right in 
the world to like Dick except as a friend. 
He has always been only ordinarily nice 
and polite to me. I really never thought 
of him seriously until after we left Paris. 
Then when I found out he was writing to 
Nona and never to me, I was terribly 
hurt. I had believed we were better 
friends than he and Nona. At first I 
didn’t see why I should mind so much, 
then by degrees I suppose I began to find 
out. Anyhow, the only reason I have for 
not liking Nona at present is jealousy. 
It is about the ugliest fault there is, so 
I’m not very proud of myself. But as I 
intend to make a clean breast of the sub- 
ject tonight and then never mention it 
again, you might as well hear the rest. 
I don’t like Mildred so much as I used to, 
because she evidently prefers to have Nona 
for Dick’s friend than to have me. And 
there are times when I’d like to pinch 
her.” 


154 


In Belgium 


It was so absurd of Barbara to end her 
confession with this anti-climax. Yet the 
older girl was not deceived. Because she 
endeavored to make fun of herself and of 
the situation, she was no less in earnest. 

“Why don’t you say something, Gene.^” 
she pleaded the next instant. “What shall 
I do.^ Am I ever going to be sensible 
again 

Perhaps it was because Eugenia had 
been devoting herself to caring for chil- 
dren for the past two months, or perhaps 
it was because she had so strongly the 
mother feeling. For at this moment she 
wanted to take Barbara in her arms. Really, 
there was not very much for her to say 
under the circumstances. Should she in- 
sist that Dick was not in love with Nona 
when she knew absolutely nothing about 
it.^ This would only make things harder 
for the other girl in the end. Barbara was 
not a foolish, sentimental person; she was 
usually clear-sighted, with sound common 
sense. Of course, she would stop caring 
for Dick Thornton after a time if he felt 
no affection for her. But how convince 
her of this at the present moment.^ 


The Ghost 


155 


“I had been fearing something like this, 
Barbara,’’ Eugenia said finally. ‘‘I don’t 
mean in connection with Nona. I never 
dreamed of her entering into the situation. 
Dick is a splendid fellow, but after all he 
has only one arm. Besides, I don’t think 
Judge Thornton is really wealthy. They 
spend a great deal of money. I know 
from all I have heard that Judge Thornton 
makes a great deal, but that Mrs. Thornton 
is very extravagant and very ambitious.” 

Barbara got up. “Let’s go to bed. Gene 
dear. Of course, nothing you can say 
will make any difference. But I promise 
to turn over a new leaf. Away with all 
human weakness!” 

Barbara started to wave her hand, but 
instead clutched at Eugenia’s arm fran- 
tically. 

“Great heavens, who was that. Gene?” 
she whispered. “I am sure I saw some 
one sliding along between the trees. He 
was crouched over as if he feared we might 
see him.” 

Eugenia took the younger girl’s arm. 
“It was no one, my dear. But remember, 


156 


In Belgium 


this is a haunted house and a ghost is sup- 
posed to wander all over the estate. Keep 
hold of my hand and we'll run to the house. 
Perhaps we may get there before the ghost 
does.” 


CHAPTER XIII 


An Arrest 

Uy WANT you to know that I under- 
I stand who the ghost was last night, 
Eugenia,” Barbara said unex- 
pectedly next morning. 

Eugenia was just about to leave her bed- 
room, Nicolete having gone downstairs 
half an hour before. 

At these words the older girl turned and 
stood straight and severe with her shoul- 
ders braced against the wall as if for sup- 
port. 

‘What do you mean?” she inquired 
slowly. 

Barbara had not finished dressing. In- 
deed, she was in the undignified attitude 
of sitting on one side of the bed putting 
on her stockings. Nevertheless, she gazed 
at Eugenia squarely. 

“I mean just what I said,” she answered. 
‘^That is, of course, I don’t know the 
( 157 ) 


158 


In Belgium 


name or the age or the identity of the man 
I saw by accident in the woods last night. 
But I realize that he must be the same 
person you have been concealing ever 
since you took this house. Naturally he 
must grow weary of the long confinement 
and be obliged to go outdoors now and 
then at night.” 

Eugenia had not replied, so Barbara 
went on thinking aloud. 

‘‘Or else some one may have been com- 
ing to the house with a message for the 
person in hiding. Of course, I don’t 
know whether your refugee is a man or 
woman. But whoever he or she may be, 
goodness knows. I’ll be grateful enough 
when the escape is over and this house 
left behind!” 

Eugenia’s face whitened at the younger 
girl’s words. Nevertheless, she again turned 
as if she meant to leave the room without 
an answer. 

Barbara was too quick for her. 

She took hold of both her shoulders 
and pulled her gently around. 

“I would rather you would say something. 


An Arrest 


159 


Gene. I have been doing all the talking 
ever since I arrived. One minute I can’t 
decide whether I ought to try and find 
out who this person is you have in hiding, 
or what your reason is. Then I wonder 
if it is best I should leave you alone? 
But please, please don’t run any risks. 
You know that if you are defying the 
German authorities and are found out, 
what your punishment may be. What 
could I possibly do to help you? I feel 
so powerless. I can’t tell you how I have 
longed to confide my suspicion to Dick 
Thornton or the girls and ask their advice. 
But I have kept absolutely silent.” 

‘‘Thank you,” Eugenia said, and then 
waited another moment. “Sit down, 
please, Barbara,” she added. “I suppose 
it is only fair that I offer you some ex- 
planation. You have been so good.” 

Barbara did as she was requested. But 
Eugenia continued to stand. Her level, 
dark brows were drawn close together and 
her face was pale. Otherwise she looked 
entirely self-possessed, sure of herself and 
her position. 


160 


In Belgium 


“I am not going to tell you that I have 
any one in hiding here, Barbara. If ques- 
tions are ever asked of you, you are to 
know absolutely nothing. But I want 
you to understand that I appreciate per- 
fectly the danger of what I have under- 
taken and have done it with my eyes open. 
If I am punished, well, at least I have 
always faced the possibility. But after 
today, dear, if things go as we hope, you 
need no longer worry over me. So far 
I feel pretty sure the Germans in command 
of this part of the country have not sus- 
pected our house in the woods of being 
anything more than a shelter for defense- 
less Belgian children. And really that 
has been my chief motive in all that I 
have done.” 

Barbara sighed. ‘^God keep us through 
the day,” she murmured, quoting a child- 
ish prayer. 

Then Eugenia went downstairs to her 
work and a short time later the younger 
girl followed her. 

Barbara was to remain until after lunch. 
But at her friend’s request she spent most 


An Arrest 


161 


of the time in the yard with the children 
and Monsieur Bebe. Whatever went on 
inside the house neither she nor any of 
the others were to be allowed to know. 

As a special pleasure the children were 
to be permitted to eat their luncheon under 
an old tree in the one-time garden. This 
garden now held no flowers except two or 
three old rosebushes and overgrown shrubs. 

The heat of yesterday had returned and 
with it even more sultriness. There were 
heavy clouds overhead, but no immediate 
sign of rain. It was one of those days 
that are always peculiarly hard to endure. 
The air was heavy and languid with a kind 
of brooding stillness that comes before the 
storm. 

The nerves of everybody seemed to be 
on edge. Monsieur Bebe had lost his 
courage of yesterday and sat silent in his 
chair with his head resting in his hand. 
Was he dreaming of Provence before France 
was driven into war.^ Or was he hearing 
again the cracking of rifles, the booming of 
cannon, all the noises of the past year 
of life in a trench.^ 


11 


162 


In Belgium 


Several times Barbara did her best to 
distract his attention, but the French boy 
could do nothing more than try to be polite. 
It was evident that he hardly heard what 
she said to him. Nicolete was too engaged 
with her duties in the house to offer com- 
panionship. Nevertheless, she came back 
and forth into the yard. Now and then 
she would stop for a moment to speak to 
Monsieur Reney, who was Monsieur Bebe 
only to Barbara, who had so named him. 

Nicolete was busy in arranging the out- 
door luncheon for the children. For she 
it was who brought out the dishes and the 
chairs. Only once did she have any as- 
sistance and then the maid from the kitchen 
helped her with the luncheon table. 
Neither Eugenia nor the woman whom they 
called ‘‘Louise” was seen all morning. 

So to Barbara fell the entire task of 
looking after the children. Perhaps it 
was the weather, perhaps they too were 
vaguely conscious that something unusual 
was going on about them, for they were 
extremely difficult. 

Not once, but half a dozen times, each 


An Arrest 


163 


child insisted upon going into the house 
to search for Eugenia. She could not be 
busy for so long a time that she could not ^ 
come out to them, they protested. This 
had never happened before. 

Jan and Bibo were particularly sulky, 
nevertheless Barbara continued firm. Jan 
had been made her especial charge. What- 
ever happened he must be kept away from 
all knowledge of what was transpiring in 
the big house only a few yards off. 

This world is ever a double mask with 
the face of tragedy painted upon one side 
and of comedy upon the other. 

So often Barbara thought of this during 
the long hours of the morning. 

Sometimes she was whirling about with 
the children in a ring, singing at the top 
of her voice to keep their attention engaged. 
Yet at the same moment her thoughts were 
all concentrated upon what was going on 
in the house with Eugenia. Whom had 
she in hiding all these weeks, risking her 
own liberty for his or her safety.^ And 
how was it possible that any human being 
could escape from Belgium whom the 
Germans wished to detain.^ 


164 


In Belgium 


Yet not a carriage nor a human being 
approached the house from the front. Of 
this Barbara was absolutely certain. Al- 
ways when it was possible she had kept 
a watchful lookout. Besides, there was 
Jan who had appointed himself sentinel. 

The boy could not consciously have 
been expecting disaster. Not a human 
being had given him a hint of what was 
to take place. Yet he simply refused to 
play when the other children invited him. 

When Barbara explained that Eugenia 
insisted he remain out of the house, he 
made no effort toward disobedience. He 
merely took up a position as far away as 
possible, but one where he could still see 
the house and at the same time keep a 
lookout ahead. For his quiet gray eyes 
would study the landscape beyond him 
sometimes for five minutes, then he would 
turn his head and gaze toward the house. 
Satisfied that he could discover nothing 
wrong there, he would again begin his 
former scrutiny. 

He was an interesting figure; Barbara 
studied him whenever she had a chance. 


An Arrest 


165 


Here was a child whorri the war had not 
so far injured physically. Although ill some 
weeks before he had since recovered. Yet 
he would bear the scars that the war had 
made upon his spirit so long as he should 
live. [Bibo’s lameness was as nothing to 
this boy’s hurt. There was a look of 
abnormal gravity in his eyes, of an under- 
standing of sorrows, that a child of ten 
should know nothing of. He was fearful 
and frightened and yet there was something 
indomitable in the child’s watching. 

He recalled the gallant army of children 
crusaders who, led by Stephen of France, 
went forth to wrest Jerusalem from the 
infidels. So their little sentinels must 
have waited wide-eyed and courageous, yet 
sick with dread, for the ravenous hosts to 
overpower them. 

Another possibility worried Barbara and 
the children all morning. There was a 
prospect that rain might come and so spoil 
their luncheon party. Suppose they should 
be compelled to scamper for shelter just 
at the critical moment in Eugenia’s plans 

The rain did not come. It must have 


166 


In Belgium 


been just a little after twelve o’clock when 
Eugenia finally walked down the front 
steps into the yard. She did not look 
toward Barbara, but her appearance was 
enough. Whatever she had wished to 
accomplish was now over. 

Although at the moment she was en- 
gaged in learning a new Belgian game, 
Barbara had to suggest that she be al- 
lowed to sit down for a time. Eugenia 
might be able to look as calm as an inland 
lake, but she felt uncomfortably agitated. 

First Eugenia spoke to Monsieur Bebe. 
Then she walked down to where Jan was 
standing. She said nothing to the boy, 
but put her arm on his shoulder. After- 
wards they walked back together toward 
the other children. But Jan’s expression 
had entirely changed. He was smiling 
now and his cheeks were happily flushed, 
yet he kept his hand tightly clutched in 
his friend’s. 

Soon after Nicolete came out of the 
house with a great tray of sandwiches. 
There was real ham between some of them 
and peanut butter between the others. 
Moreover, there was an enormous dish of 


An Arrest 


167 


baked potatoes and another of beans. For 
some reason the children did not under- 
stand, for it was neither Sunday nor a 
saint’s day, they were to have a feast. 

The table, which had been easy enough 
to arrange, since it was only a couple of 
boards laid upon carpenter’s horses, was 
set in the middle of the garden, partly 
shaded by an old elm tree. The garden 
was just a few yards to the left of the 
house and in plain view of any one ap- 
proaching. 

Naturally Eugenia took her place at the 
head of the table, with Nicolete at the other 
end. Barbara was on Eugenia’s right, with 
her eyes on the scene ahead. She could 
see the edge of the woods with the path 
that connected the house with the outside 
world. Jan was next her with the same 
outlook upon the surroundings. 

It was Jan who saw the two German 
officers approaching with a guard of eight 
soldiers behind them a few moments, later. 

The boy had just lifted a sandwich to 
his lips when something in his rigid atti- 
tude first attracted Barbara’s attention. 
She then let her knife drop onto the table. 


168 


In Belgium 


The noise startled Eugenia, for she too 
looked up. Instantly Barbara explained 
what was happening. 

“Don’t stir and please don’t appear to 
be frightened before the children,” Eugenia 
ordered. “I must go and meet the offi- 
cers, but I’ll wait until they are nearer.” 

So the German soldiers had a clear vision 
of Eugenia and the children as they ap- 
proached. The rough board table had no 
cover, but In the center was a bunch of wild 
flowers that the children had gathered in 
the neglected fields. 

In order to keep them from seeing too 
soon what must inevitably happen, Eugenia 
started the singing of a Belgian translation 
of the Russian “Prayer for Peace.” 

It was perhaps the song that came most 
from her heart at the moment, although 
she and her little companions had been 
trying to learn it for several weeks past. 

“God the All Righteous One! Man hath defied 
Thee, 

Yet to eternity sure standeth Thy word; 
Falsehood and wrong shall not tarry beside Thee, 

Give to us peace in our time, O Lord!” 


An Arrest 


169 


Then when the German officers were 
within a few yards of her, Eugenia got up 
and walked quietly forward. She did not 
go alone though, because Jan held on to 
her skirts so tightly that there was no pos- 
sibility of tearing him loose. 

‘^Will you wait a moment, please, until 
the children can be taken to another part 
of the yard.^” Eugenia asked quietly. 
“Some of them are very young and will 
only be terrified and confused by our con- 
versation. I think most of them are 
afraid of soldiers.” 

There was no reproach in the girl’s tone 
as she said this. But the sting was in- 
evitably there. 

However, the older of the two officers 
bowed his head and Nicolete led the re- 
luctant children away. 

By this time Barbara had placed herself 
at one side her friend next to little Jan. 
And poor Monsieur Bebe, hearing the 
voices, had crept blindly forward to within 
a few feet of the little company. 

In the meantime the soldiers had divided : 
two of them stood before the front door 


170 


In Belgium 


and two had retired to the rear of the house. 
The other four guarded either side. 

“You are under arrest, Fraulein,” the 
German officer began. He was stern, but 
rigidly polite. 

“Very well,” Eugenia answered. “In 
five minutes I can be ready to go with 
you. But tell me, please, of what I am 
accused.” 

“You are accused of harboring a Belgian 
spy, a Colonel Carton, who got back 
through the lines, disguised as a German 
soldier and into his wife’s home in Brussels. 
His effort was to obtain certain papers and 
information and then return to King Albert 
and the British Allies. We have reason to 
believe Colonel Carton is still in your 
house.” The officer at this instant drew a 
pair of handcuffs from his pocket. 

Naturally Eugenia flinched, yet she held 
out her hands. 

“Your intention is to search my house. 
You will, of course, do what you wish. 
But remember that I am an American 
citizen and under the protection of the 
United States flag.” 


An Arrest 


171 


Then one of the officers remained in 
the yard while the other led his soldiers 
into the house. 

Ten, fifteen minutes passed. Eugenia 
talked quietly to Barbara. She begged 
her to ask permission of the hospital 
authorities to allow her to stay with the 
children. She told her where she might 
obtain the money for keeping up their 
expenses. Some time before she had w'ritten 
a letter giving Barbara her power of at- 
torney. Almost every detail had been 
arranged. 

Of course, Eugenia was frightened. She 
was not unlike other people, only that she 
had a stronger will and sometimes a finer 
determination. 

Finally the German officer and his sol- 
diers returned. 

‘‘We can find no trace of Colonel Carton 
or his wife,’’ the younger officer reported. 
“However, a servant from their household 
in Brussels is here and I have reason to 
believe the two children of Madame and 
Colonel Carton.” 

Still Jan, who had never let go his hold 


172 


In Belgium 


on Eugenia, did not flinch. Not once did 
he even glance up toward one of the 
German soldiers, nor give a sign that 
might betray him or his protector. 

“I am sorry, but you must go with us 
until the circumstances can be more thor- 
oughly investigated,” the older officer com- 
manded. 

A short time afterwards Eugenia went 
quietly away. One of the soldiers carried 
her suitcase. Since she marched between 
them and showed no intention of giving 
trouble, the officer had taken off the hand- 
cuffs. Evidently he meant to be as cour- 
teous as possible under the circumstances. 
Moreover, Eugenia’s dignity was impressive. 

All through the interview Barbara had 
felt her knees trembling so beneath her 
that she felt unable to stand. Her hands 
were like ice and her cheeks on fire; more- 
over, there was a lump in her throat which 
made her totally unable to speak. 

Nevertheless, she did speak whenever a 
question was asked of her, nor did she 
shed a tear until Eugenia had gone. 

It was curious, but no one broke down. 


An Arrest 


173 


not even Jan. He merely kept his hold on 
Eugenia’s skirt until she started to leave. 

Then Eugenia herself unloosed his hands. 
He had been on his knees before and he 
made no effort to get up afterwards. 

Finally, when Barbara lifted the boy in 
her arms she found it was because he was 
too weak to stand. 


CHAPTER XIV 


A Month Later 

D ick THORNTON had taken lodg- 
ings in an old house in Brussels in 
a once fashionable quarter of the 
city. He had a big reception room and a 
small room adjoining. Recently Nona 
and Mildred had been coming in to have 
tea with him on their afternoons of leisure. 
They even dropped in occasionally in their 
daily walks. For in order to keep their 
health and spirits each Red Cross nurse, 
following the familiar rule, was given two 
hours off duty every afternoon. 

But Barbara Meade had never seen the 
quarters where Dick lived. Always she 
had pleaded some kind of an excuse in 
answer to his invitations, until finally he 
had proffered them no more. Then for 
the past month she had been taking Eu- 
genia’s place in her house in the woods. 
But this afternoon Barbara had made 

( 174 ) 


A Month Later 


175 


an appointment to meet Nona and Mil- 
dred at Dick’s at four o’clock. 

Half an hour before the> time, Dick 
came into the house with his arms full of 
flowers which he had purchased from a 
little old woman at the corner. She had 
become a great friend of his, for the flower 
business was a poor one in a city where 
people had no money even for food. So 
today Dick had purchased bunches of w^all 
flowers and others of columbine and lark- 
spur. For the flowers grew in the old 
woman^s own garden within a sheltered 
suburb of Brussels. She must have grown 
them and sold them in order that she 
might still continue to sit in the same 
place. For so far as one could know she 
had no other reason for her industry. She 
appeared to be entirely alone and friendless. 

Dick’s sitting room was enormous, yet 
almost empty. The house had been de- 
serted by its owners early in the war. 
They had then removed most of their be- 
longings to London for safe keeping, soon 
after hostilities broke out. 

But Dick opened wide a pair of French 


176 


In Belgium 


windows until the atmosphere of the room 
had grown cool and sweet. He then ar- 
ranged his own flowers and set out his 
own tea table in a somewhat clumsy fashion, 
drawing four chairs conveniently near. 
They were the only four chairs in the room 
and very different in character. Two of 
them were enormous armchairs uphols- 
tered in Brussels tapestry, the other were 
two small wooden ones which had prob- 
ably served for the servant’s dining room. 

But Dick was fairly well satisfled with 
the appearance of things, since empty 
grandeur is much more satisfying than 
tawdry quantity. 

Afterwards Dick disappeared to make 
an afternoon toilet. 

It had been such ages since he had worn 
anything but the most workaday clothes. 
Now and then when he came in tired at 
night and discouraged with life from the 
sight of so much unnecessary sorrow, he 
used to slip into a smoking jacket for an 
hour or so. Usually several American 
fellows dropped in later, young doctors 
or other men assisting with the Belgian 
relief work. 


A Month Later 


177 


But today Dick felt the occasion to be 
a more important one. 

Barbara was coming on an errand of 
grave importance. Yet one might as 
well meet the situation as cheerfully as 
possible. Nothing was ever to be gained 
by unnecessary gloom. 

It still remained a task for Dick to dress 
himself with one of his arms almost useless. 
At first it had been impossible and he had 
employed a man to help him. But men 
were needed for more strenuous labors 
these days than being another fellow^s 
valet. So he had come to taking care of 
himself in a somewhat awkward fashion. 
The collar was his supreme difficulty, 
just as it frequently is with a man with 
two perfectly good arms. 

Today, of course, because Dick was in 
a hurry, his collar behaved in a worse 
manner than usual. The collar button 
had to be searched for under the bed for 
nearly five minutes, and then it did not 
seem to fit the button-hole of the shirt. 

Finally Dick sat down and began to 
smoke in an effort to soothe his nerves. 


12 


178 


In Belgium 


Mildred had promised to come along ahead 
of time to do whatever was needed. As 
there was nothing more, except to adjust 
his tiresome neckwear, he might as well 
wait in peace. 

But in the meantime Dick read over 
the note from Barbara in which she asked 
that the four of them might meet at his 
apartment. It was the one place where 
it was possible that their conversation be 
absolutely private. And what they had 
to discuss was a matter for gravest secrecy. 

Although Dick had previously arranged 
his hair with much care, while reading the 
note he thrust his hand through it until 
his locks rose in brown, Byronic confusion. 

So when the first knock came at his 
sitting room door, convinced of his sister’s 
arrival, Dick strode to it, dangling his 
collar in his hand. 

His appearance was not strictly con- 
ventional. 

The girl at the door looked a little 
startled, then smiled and walked into the 
room without invitation. 

suppose I am first. I didn’t mean to 


A Month Later 


179 


be,’’ she explained. ‘‘But Dr. Mason 
came out to see one of the children and 
brought me back to town in the hospital 
motor car. So I got here sooner than I 
expected.” 

“I am sorry. I thought you were Mil- 
dred. I mean, I hoped you were Mildred.” 
Dick laughed. “Sounds polite, doesn’t 
it, what I am trying to say.^ But the 
fact is, if you’ll just take olf your hat or 
your wrap, or your gloves, why, I’ll dis- 
appear for half a minute and come back 
with a collar on.” 

Barbara nodded and her reluctant host 
disappeared. 

She was glad of a few moments to look 
around. It was almost homelike here in 
Dick’s quarters, and not since leaving the 
little “Farmhouse with the Blue Front 
Door” had she enjoyed the sensation of 
home. 

She certainly did not enjoy it at Eugenia’s 
big house, although she was now in full 
charge of the establishment. For there 
was always the sense of Eugenia’s loss and 
of the privations which she was enduring. 


180 


In Belgium 


Barbara did throw her hat to one side 
and her coat and gloves. The freedom was 
pleasanter. Then, since small persons 
have a penchant for large chairs and large 
persons for small ones, Barbara seated 
herself in the most imposing chair in the 
room. 

Not thinking of where she was, nor of 
what she was doing, she slipped one small 
foot under her, leaned her head against 
the upholstery and gazed critically around. 

They were going to have tea and she 
was glad of it. Then she loved the pres- 
ence of so many simple outdoor flowers. 
Probably they had been purchased for 
Nona’s delectation, yet one could enjoy 
them just the same. 

Besides, Barbara was by this time con- 
vinced that she had entirely recovered 
from any jealousy where Nona and Dick 
were concerned. She had seen them very 
seldom in the past month. But this was 
not because she had any more feeling in 
regard to the situation. It was merely 
because she had more Important matters 
to engage her attention. Her talk with 


A Month Later 


181 


Eugenia seemed to have cleared the emo- 
tional situation so far as she was concerned. 
Now her interest in Dick and Nona was 
purely impersonal and friendly. 

Yet Barbara got up and strolled over 
to the tall French mantel. Yes, there 
was a picture of Nona on it. She had 
not been mistaken. Certainly Nona took 
an extremely pretty picture. Her features 
were so regular and delicate. It was 
rather different if one chanced to be afflicted 
with a . retrousse nose. 

Still studying Nona’s photograph, Bar- 
bara heard a slight noise behind her. 

There was Dick with his collar yet 
dangling from his hand. 

‘H say, which would you prefer, to talk 
to a man without a collar or to help him 
put one on.^ I am not going to lose all 
the chance I may have for seeing you in 
struggling with this dog-taked thing.” 

The girl looked demure. Then she in- 
dicated that Dick might seat himself upon 
the lowest stool. The next moment he 
was entirely ship-shape, as Barbara had 
also assisted in adjusting a new dark-red 


182 


In Belgium 


tie. It was of a flowing character, because 
Dick wore the same black velvet coat in 
which he had appeared before Barbara 
in New York City some eighteen months 
before. The coat was therefore not new. 
But Dick may have had a suspicion that 
it was becoming, although men are not 
supposed to be interested in any such 
trivial concerns. 

However, Barbara was aware of the 
becomingness and was sincerely glad to 
discover how well her former friend looked. 
Certainly he had taken his share of the 
war’s misfortunes in a courageous spirit. 
Once she had not believed him capable of 
any ideal save a social one. 

Barbara had returned to her tall chair 
and Dick sat across from her on one of^ 
the wooden ones. The tea service stood 
between them, but of course they were 
waiting for the coming of the other two 
girls. 

Although she had wished for her tea, 
Barbara did not feel impatient over the 
delay at present. She was trying to make 
up her mind whether it would be wise to 


A Month Later 


183 


tell Dick how glad she was of his cheer- 
fulness before she began to speak of her 
own mission. For then there would be 
little opportunity for cheerfulness unless 
one of the others had better news to report 
than she had. 

So instead of beginning a conversation 
Barbara sat in entire quiet, although gazing 
at her companion in an extremely friendly 
fashion. 

In the pause Dick Thornton suddenly 
thrust out his right hand and placed it 
lightly over Barbara’s hand, which chanced 
to be carelessly lying on the table. 

‘‘I have something I’d like to tell you, 
Barbara, before Nona and Mildred get 
here,” he began. ‘‘It is a secret so far 
and perhaps I have no right to be so happy 
until things are settled. But I’ve every 
right ” 

The moment had come! The news 
that Dick had to tell her she had been 
expecting. Yet' she had believed the an- 
nouncement would first be made by Nona. 
It was kind of Dick to remember their 
former friendliness and to wish her to 
share his happiness so soon. 


184 


In Belgium 


But at this instant Mildred and Nona, 
without waiting to knock, opened the 
sitting room door and Dick’s confession 
was never made. 


CHAPTER XV 


Powerless 

ii ^ ^ UT it is too dreadful for us to be 
I ^ able to do nothing , Barbara com- 
mented. She looked dispirited 
and blinked resolutely at a small pocket 
handkerchief which lay folded in her lap. 

However, she had made up her mind 
not to cry, no matter what happened. 
After all, she was a woman and not a child, 
and Eugenia would consider tears a most 
ineffective method of assistance. 

She had come to Dick's apartment with 
every idea of being brave and had started 
off in that spirit. Then Dick’s interrupted 
confession had been a trifle upsetting. 
Moreover, she had hoped that Dick or 
one of the girls would have good news to 
tell about Eugenia, or at least be able to 
make a comforting suggestion. 

While she was thinking this, Nona Davis 
got up and began walking up and down 
the length of the room. 

( 185 ) 


186 


In Belgium 


‘‘The situation is abominable!” she 
exclaimed. ‘‘To think of a splendid person 
like Eugenia, who is so needed, shut up 
in a German prison! Besides, she is an 
American girl! It simply makes my blood 
boil. I wish for a short time I were a 
man.” 

Nona’s cheeks were a deep rose and her 
golden brown eyes were almost black from 
emotion. 

Barbara thought she looked charming. 
But Dick smiled upon the excited girl 
rather condescendingly. 

“Do come and sit down, please, Nona. 
I know it is your southern blood that 
makes you long to fight. But this isn’t 
the time for it. After all, I am a man 
and I haven’t been able to rescue Eugenia. 
Of course, you would be a more effective 
man than I can ever hope to be. But 
today let us try to face the situation 
quietly. It is the only way we can hope 
to accomplish anything.” 

In order to take the edge off his words 
Dick smiled. Also he thrust a chair 
nearer his guest. Barbara thought the 


Powerless 


187 


other girl sat down somewhat meekly. 
Never could she have taken a snubbing 
so gracefully. But then there was no dis- 
puting that Nona had the sweeter dis- 
position. 

Then Dick reseated himself by the tea 
table. After taking several papers out 
of his pocket he again looked over toward 
Barbara. 

“I wish you would repeat to me, word 
for word, as nearly as you can, just what 
statement Eugenia made to you when you 
were allowed to see her in prison,” he 
demanded. 

His matter-of-fact tone and present cold 
manner entirely drove away Barbara’s 
weak leaning toward tears. 

^Ht was some time ago, but Til try and 
repeat what Gene said exactly as possible. 
She said we were not to be angry or em- 
bittered over her imprisonment, because 
she had defied the German authorities. 
She declared they had a perfect right to 
arrest her. For she had been hiding a 
Belgian soldier who would have been shot 
as a spy if he had been discovered. It 


188 


In Belgium 


was almost a miracle how he managed to 
escape. But they had been warned by 
a friend in Brussels a few days before, 
that their house was at last suspected. 
Actually Madame Carton and Colonel Car- 
ton both got away on the very day the 
German officers came for them. Eugenia 
would not tell how they managed their 
escape. She said that wasn’t my business, 
nor any one else’s.” 

As she repeated this speech, Barbara 
looked so surprisingly firm that Dick had 
to swallow a smile. Unconsciously Bar- 
bara was behaving like a phonograph 
record in reproducing the exact tones of 
the original speaker. 

^‘But if Eugenia understood what she 
would have to face, whatever made her 
do such a mad thing.? This Colonel Car- 
ton was absolutely nothing to her. When 
he returned to Brussels he took his own 
risk. It is natural that the Germans in 
command here in Belgium should be en- 
raged. He probably carried back much 
valuable information to the Allies. Good- 
ness only knows how he ever succeeded 


Powerless 


189 


in getting here, much less getting away!’’ 
Dick protested, speaking as much to him- 
self as his audience. 

Then he pounded the table with his one 
good hand in his agitation. 

‘^Eugenia was out of her senses. What 
excuse did she have for saving the man 
and his family.^ She is an American and 
is a guest of the country. She had no 
right to aid Germany’s enemies. Besides, 
you girls always said that Eugenia was 
the one of you who insisted that you remain 
absolutely neutral.” 

With this final statement Dick gazed 
reproachfully from one to the other of his 
audience. 

Every day since Eugenia’s arrest he 
had gone about Brussels seeking assistance 
and advice. He had seen the American 
Minister, the American Consul and nearly 
every member of the Belgian Relief Com- 
mittee. But in each case his answer had 
been the same. Whatever was possible 
would be done to effect Eugenia’s release. 
But without doubt her behavior had placed 
her in a difficult position. 


190 


In Belgium 


But Dick had not been alone in his 
pilgrimages. Mildred, Nona and Barbara 
had been equally energetic. There was 
no person in authority in Brussels possible 
to see whom they had not interviewed. 
But Eugenia was still in prison and liable 
to remain there. However, she had not 
yet appeared for trial before the German 
Military Court. Her friends were doing 
their best to have her set free before this 
time came. For once her sentence was 
declared, it would be more difficult to 
secure her pardon. 

Eugenia insisted that there was nothing 
to do but plead guilty. And this might 
mean months or years of imprisonment! 

The three girls became more unhappy 
under Dick’s reasoning. It was so per- 
fectly true that there seemed nothing for 
them to say. 

Nevertheless, Barbara flushed indig- 
nantly. Dick always inspired her with a 
desire for argument. Moreover, when it 
came to a point of defending Eugenia, she 
would perish gladly in her cause. 

“I realize that Eugenia’s conduct does 


Powerless 


191 


seem foolish. Perhaps it was worse than 
that; perhaps she was wicked to do as she 
did,*’ Barbara added, no longer looking 
down at her handkerchief, but directly 
at Dick Thornton. Eugenia, she appreci- 
ated, would not require to be absolved 
before the other girls. 

‘‘Just the same, I think there was some- 
thing beautiful and inspiring in Gene’s 
act. She hasn’t asked us to worry over 
her. She has declared all along that she 
was willing to take what was coming to 
her,” Barbara murmured, falling into slang 
with entire good faith. “Her only de- 
fense is that both Colonel Carton and Jan 
were desperately ill when Madame Carton 
made the appeal to her. If she had not 
gone to the house in the woods to take 
care of them, they must have been found 
out. Then without a doubt Colonel Car- 
ton and perhaps Madame Carton would 
have been hung as spies.” 

An uncomfortable lump was beginning 
to form in Barbara’s throat. For at the 
instant it seemed to her that Dick Thorn- 
ton represented the whole tribunal of mascu- 


192 


In Belgium 


line wisdom and justice arrayed against 
a woman’s sentiment. 

How was she to make him see Eugenia’s 
point of view? 

In spite of her best efforts Barbara’s 
eyes were filling with tears and her voice 
shaking. 

‘‘Gene says she never thought things 
out in detail, although she fully realized 
the risk she was running. All she decided 
was that Jan and his little sister should 
not be made orphans if she could help it. 
She says that ever since she put her foot 
in Belgium the cry of the children has been 
ringing in her ears. What had they to do 
with this war and its horrors? If she 
could aid them . in the smallest possible 
way, this was her work and her mission. 
‘Inasmuch as ye have done it unto the 
least of these little ones, ye have done it 
unto me,’ ” Barbara whispered, and then 
was unable to continue. 

But Mildred had risen and was standing 
by her side as if she were a new witness 
for the defense. 

“I have written father the whole story, 


Powerless 


193 


everything Eugenia has done in connection 
with this entire case,” Mildred explained 
quietly. ‘‘And I have asked him to go to 
Washington and see the Secretary of State 
and the President if he thinks necessary. 
As soon as my letter arrived he answered 
it immediately, promising to do what I 
asked. Then he told me to see Eugenia 
and if it were possible to present his regards 
to her and to tell her to be of good courage. 
Of course, he could not write all he meant, 
as his letter might be censored, but I think 
I understood father’s point of view pretty 
well.” 

Because Mildred Thornton did not talk 
a great deal, what she said was usually 
respected. Even Dick looked somewhat 
subdued. 

“What do you suppose father really did 
mean, then, Mill.^” he queried. “I con- 
fess I am so troubled and so harassed 
over this business of Eugenia that I am of 
little account. I keep regretting that she 
ever got herself and all of us into such 
unnecessary sorrow.” 

Mildred went over and laid her hands 


13 


194 


In Belgium 


on Dick’s hair, which had again become 
rumpled through his agitation. 

‘‘I don’t believe father thinks Eugenia’s 
action was entirely unnecessary, Dick, even 
if we must all suffer with her,” Mildred 
argued. ‘‘Perhaps Eugenia only did what 
any one of us would have done under the 
same circumstances, if we had possessed 
her courage and good sense. The Belgians 
were perfectly innocent of offense in this 
war. Colonel Carton was risking his life 
and his honor. If Eugenia could help him 
or his family ” 

“Be quiet.” It was Nona’s voice that 
spoke, although under her breath. At the 
same instant she held up a warning finger. 

There were persons passing in the hall 
outside their door. One could hear their 
footsteps distinctly. 

Almost at once Nona got up and ap- 
proached the tea table. 

“Let us have tea, won’t you, please, 
Dick.^” she begged. “We are all tired 
and hungry and thirsty. Besides, we are 
discouraged.” She said this even more 
softly, although the sounds in the hall had 


Powerless 


195 


ceased. Doubtless the passersby were 
only other dwellers in the house. 

Dick sighed with relief and gratitude. 

‘‘What a satisfying person you are, 
Nona! It would have been better, how- 
ever, if you had made this suggestion half 
an hour ago.” Then he turned again 
toward Mildred and Barbara. 

“Please don’t think I can’t see that 
there was something fine and quixotic in 
Eugenia’s conduct, even if I wish she had 
chosen differently,” he added. “Truth 
is, I have taken the situation more seriously 
than ever today because I have had bad 
news.” 

Nona Davis had lifted the teapot in 
her hand to pour out the tea, but at these 
words she set it down hastily. 

Mildred merely took a firmer hold on 
Barbara’s shoulder. 

“What is it, Dick.^” she demanded. 

This time Dick got up and floundered 
about impatiently. 

“Oh, it may be nothing and perhaps I 
should not have spoken of it. But the 
truth is, Eugenia is ill. One of the physi- 


196 


In Belgium 


clans at the prison was considerate enough 
to let me know. He does not think the 
trouble serious and says Eugenia insists 
she will be all right in a few days. Just 
the same, Eugenia has been through a 
lot. I don’t want to be a croaker, but 
there was the strain of the long nursing 
of Captain Castaigne and then this busi- 
ness. One of you girls must go to her as 
soon as I can get you permission, if I ever 
can get it. Which one of you shall it be.^” 

From the depth of her big chair Bar- 
bara answered in a somewhat weary but 
steadfast voice: 

‘‘There is no question; Eugenia and I 
have meant everything to each other lately, 
and ” 

“There is a question, Barbara, and you 
must be sensible. In looking after Eu- 
genia’s house you are doing everything 
you have strength for. I am sure you 
can’t weigh a hundred pounds these days! 
Ever since we came to Belgium, it seems to 
me you have been growing tinier. After 
a while you may blow away,” Mildred 
declared. 


Powerless 


197 


Then she marched over and, removing 
the teapot from Nona’s hand, began pour- 
ing out the tea in a quiet and comforting 
fashion. 

‘‘Of course, Eugenia is not well after a 
month of being in prison. Why should 
any one of us expect her to be?” she an- 
nounced. “Here, Dick, please pass this 
cup to Barbara and your muffins. The 
poor child looks utterly fagged! We ought 
to have thought that she has come all the 
way in from the country and has probably 
been up since daylight. She is a very 
little woman to live in a shoe.” 

Gratefully and without further protest 
Barbara drank her tea. She was more 
tired than she had dreamed and glad to 
be taken care of for even a short a time. 
How happy she was to have gotten over 
her former antagonism toward her friends. 
What right had she to be jealous and mis- 
erable because a beautiful experience had 
come to Nona and Dick? They were 
both her good friends. 

At this moment Dick was whispering 
something to Nona, while she smiled up 


198 


In Belgium 


toward him. There was no mistaking 
the expression in her eyes, Barbara felt 
convinced. Later on she would congratu- 
late them, but not this afternoon; she 
was too tired. 

Perhaps Nona became conscious of the 
other girl’s gaze, for she drew away from 
her companion. 

‘‘By the way, Barbara,” she exclaimed, 
“there is something I have wished to tell 
you for several days! Weeks ago when 
you told me you had discovered Lieutenant 
Hume a prisoner in Brussels, I wrote him 
a note. It must have taken ages for my 
letter to get to him. Anyhow, I received 
three or four lines from him the other day. 
I suppose it was all he was permitted to 
write. But he thanked me and said he 
was getting on pretty comfortably. Cer- 
tainly I could not but admire his courage.” 

Dick Thornton frowned. “You don’t 
mean, Nona, that you wrote a letter to 
Lieutenant Hume in prison without his 
asking you. I didn’t suppose you knew 
him sufficiently well.” 

But before Barbara could confess that 


Powerless 


199 


the suggestion had come from her, Mil- 
dred Thornton interposed. 

“Don’t be absurd, Dick. You are tak- 
ing everything in a gloomy fashion this 
afternoon. I should have written Lieu- 
tenant Hume myself if Nona had not. He 
is in hard luck, when a single line from 
the outside world is cheering. We must 
go now. Please do your best to get me 
permission to visit Eugenia. In the mean- 
time I shall see what I can do. Sorry we 
had to have such a dismal party tea. Hope 
for better news next time.” 


CHAPTER XVI 


Louvain 

R ecently Nona Davis had begun 
to confess to herself that she might 
some day be able to like Dick 
Thornton more than an ordinary acquaint- 
ance. 

Without doubt this idea had come to 
her gradually, for during their early ac- 
quaintance he had simply represented Mil- 
dred’s brother and Barbara’s especial friend. 
When she thought of him at all it had been 
chiefly in his relation to the other two 
girls. 

Dick was good looking and agreeable, 
these were obvious facts. Moreover, he 
had shown splendid grit and courage in 
his work for the poor and wounded in the 
present war. However, it was not until 
after their holiday visit together in Paris 
that Nona had reason to believe Dick 
desired her intimate friendship. 

( 200 ) 


Louvain 


201 


She had already left Paris and was 
living at the little farmhouse in southern 
France when he wrote begging her to tell 
him the details of their life together which 
his sister, Mildred, might forget. 

The request had struck Nona as sur- 
prising. Why had he not made the sug- 
gestion to Barbara Meade rather than to 
her.^ He and Barbara had quarreled now 
and then before the trip to Paris and while 
there, but in spite of this seemed to find 
each other’s society more than ordinarily 
agreeable. 

Moreover, Dick probably owed his life 
to Barbara. Had she not rescued him 
from the bursting shell near their base 
hospital, or Dick must have carried more 
than a useless arm as a record of his ad- 
venture. 

Nevertheless, if Dick and Barbara had 
chosen for reasons of their own to be less 
intimate, Nona could scarcely ask ques- 
tions. Neither did she see how she could 
refuse to write to Dick Thornton if he 
really wished it, since her letters were 
merely to keep him in closer touch with 
the four American Red Cross girls. 


202 


In Belgium 


Dick wrote delightful letters and so 
did Nona. Besides, these were days when, 
in spite of its tragedies, life was brimming 
over with interests. The letters grew 
more frequent, more intimate, and finally 
Dick spoke of his coming to Belgium. 
But he proposed that his coming be kept 
a secret until the last moment, for there 
might be circumstances that would inter- 
fere. 

Since his arrival Nona had been fre- 
quently in his society. The fact that 
Mildred was partly responsible for this, 
she did not realize. She only knew that 
Barbara had persistently refused to join 
them in leisure hours. Therefore she and 
Dick and Mildred were of necessity more 
often together; Eugenia was entirely out 
of the situation. The fact that Mildred 
purposely left her alone in her brother’s 
society, Nona never considered. When- 
ever this had occurred, she simply regarded 
the circumstance as an accident. 

But Nona naturally felt a closer bond 
between herself and Dick since her con- 
fession of her own problem. Moreover, 


Louvain 


203 


she had taken his advice and sent a letter 
to her family lawyer in Charleston. In 
this letter she demanded to be told every- 
thing that was known or could be found 
out in connection with her mother’s his- 
tory. But although a number of weeks 
had passed her letter had remained un- 
answered. 

Three days after the interview in regard 
to Eugenia in Dick’s apartment, Nona 
received a hurried note. The note ex- 
plained that Dick Thornton had been 
ordered to Louvain to make an especial 
investigation for the Belgian Relief Com- 
mittee. He asked if Nona could manage 
to make the trip with him. They would 
start early the next morning and return 
the same day. If it were possible for 
Nona to be excused from her hospital 
work, he was particularly anxious to have 
her join him. 

Ten minutes after the note arrived, 
Nona was busy making the necessary 
plans. 

At the hospital there were no objections 
offered to her being given the day’s holi- 


204 


In Belgium 


day. For Nona explained that she was 
convinced that it would be a wonderfully 
interesting experience to visit the ruined 
city and University of Louvain. 

More than the other girls she had enjoyed 
their journeys from place to place in 
Europe, when they were obliged to change 
their fields of work. Even when these 
trips had not been taken under the pleasant- 
est conditions her enthusiasm had been 
able to rise above the difficulties. 

When the war was over Nona hoped 
before going home that it might be possible 
for her to travel over the continent. Now 
and then she and Mildred Thornton had 
even spoken of this as a possibility in an 
idle fashion. For with Nona such a dis- 
cussion could be nothing but idle, as she 
had scarcely a dollar beyond what she 
was able to earn as a nurse. 

At ten o’clock on the chosen day Dick 
called for her. As soon as she joined him 
in the hall of the hospital, Nona recog- 
nized that Dick had seldom looked so well. 
Besides, he seemed somehow more vigor- 
ous and happier. 


Louvain 


205 


In honor of the occasion he wore what 
appeared to be a new suit, although it had 
been purchased in London soon after his 
arrival a number of months before. 

After her first sensation of admiration 
Nona suffered a tiny pang of envy. How 
satisfying it must be to have as much 
money as Dick and Mildred seemed to 
have ! They were not extravagant and 
yet they never had to worry over small 
matters. More than this, it must be a 
great help through life to have so dis- 
tinguished a father as Judge Thornton. 
Whenever his name was mentioned abroad 
people had heard of him as a great inter- 
national lawyer. Sometimes Nona won- 
dered why Mildred and Dick should care 
for her friendship. The distinguished mem- 
bers of her family had belonged to gen- 
erations that were now dead. 

But today, for many reasons, Nona would 
particularly have liked to wear a different 
costume. For assuredly Dick must be 
as tired of the one she had on as she was 
herself. It was the same black dress that 
she had bought in Paris last spring and 
been compelled to use for best ever since. 


206 


In Belgium 


True, Nona had managed to run out 
the evening before to one of Brussels’ 
millinery shops, where she purchased a 
small black turban. Before the coming of 
the German military hosts to Belgium, 
Brussels was regarded as the small sister 
of Paris in matters of fashion. Since then, 
of course, the city had but little heart 
for frivolity. 

However, Nona felt fairly well satisfied 
with her purchase. Moreover, she was 
pleased to discern that Dick Thornton’s 
eyes rested upon it with immediate satis- 
faction. It is true that a man more 
often observes a woman’s hat than any 
part of her costume. 

In walking on the street you may make 
this discovery for yourself. A man or boy 
looks first at a girl’s face, then if this 
pleases him he slowly studies her costume 
and figure. Frequently a woman or girl 
glances first at the toilette, and then if 
displeased never cares to look beyond for 
the personality. 

However, Nona had but little reason 
for being dissatisfied with her own appear- 


Louvain 


207 


ance. She was one of the few fortunate 
persons who have a grace and beauty of 
coloring that is not dependent upon clothes. 
Clothes help, of course, under all circum- 
stances, yet she could manage to be 
beautiful in shabby ones. Moreover, the 
black dress was only slightly worn and her 
white crepe waist had been freshly washed 
and pressed. 

Before she arrived at the Station du Nord 
with her companion, Nona had the good 
sense to cease to consider her apparel. 
Por since Belgium was a land of mourning, 
poverty was the most fitting dress. 

The land between Brussels and Louvain 
was once an agricultural district. Since 
Belgium had been conquered and possessed 
by the Germans, they had made every 
effort to resow and harvest many of the 
fields. But the neighborhood of Louvain 
was still a place of desolation. 

As their train carried them farther along 
on their journey, Nona decided that she 
had never seen anything like the country- 
side in all her experience as a war nurse. 
In certain parts of France wide areas had 


208 


In Belgium 


been destroyed, but not far away one would 
often find other districts untouched by 
fire or sword. 

Dick and Nona talked in a desultory 
fashion as they journeyed toward the 
famous old university town. One felt as 
if Louvain was already a city of the past. 
Within its suburbs there were many small 
ruined homes, looking as if a giant had 
ruthlessly pushed over whole rows of dolls' 
houses. For Louvain was formerly one 
of the lace-making centers of Belgium, 
and in these small houses dark-eyed women 
and girls once worked long hours at their 
trade. 

Before their arrival Dick decided that 
he must first attend to his business in 
Louvain. Afterwards they would feel freer 
to prowl about and investigate the ruins 
of the University. It would not be nec- 
essary to hurry then, as there would be 
no reason to return to Brussels until after 
dark. 

Dick’s pilgrimage to Louvain had been 
inspired by the desire to discover a family 
of Belgians supposedly starving in one of 


Louvain 


209 


the city’s wrecked homes. The father 
was known to have been killed at the 
sacking of Louvain. Yet in some amazing 
fashion the mother and children had con- 
tinued to exist for nearly a year without 
money and almost without food. The 
American Relief Committee, learning their 
need, had despatched Dick to see what 
could be done for them. 

Just what the character of the place he 
was to seek, nor the conditions surround- 
ing it, the young man did not know. There- 
fore, he considered it wiser for Nona to 
wait for him. So he led her into the in- 
terior of the ancient Church of St. Pierre, 
where she was to remain until his return. 
The church had been only slightly injured 
by the burning of the city. 

As a matter of fact, Nona was glad to 
be allowed to rest there peacefully for a 
time. Although she was an excellent 
nurse, she was not so successful in making 
friends with unfortunate people as the 
other three Red Cross girls. So she feared 
that Dick might consider her more of a 
drawback than a help to him in his work. 


14 


210 


In Belgium 


The girl was frank enough to confess to 
herself that she wished to make a good 
impression. 

An old church is ever a citadel of dreams. 
Yet Nona had not the faintest intention 
of letting her imagination wander into 
unbounded realms when she first found 
a seat in the semi-darkness. 

Simply from curiosity she had gone into 
one of the chapels behind the high altar. 
Here she discovered five paintings, depicting 
the life and death of the blessed Margaret 
of Louvain, the patron saint of domestic 
servants. 

At first Nona was simply amused and 
interested, for it had not occurred to her 
that domestic servants had a saint of their 
own. 

Then without realizing it she fell to 
thinking of her own old home in Charles- 
ton, South Carolina, and of the southern 
“mammy,” who had been more than her 
own mother to her. 

It was strange that her lawyer in Charles- 
ton had not yet answered her letter. Per- 
haps she would ask Dick his opinion again. 


Louvain 


211 


However, Nona felt a curious shrinking 
from this idea. For if Dick was beginning 
to feel interested in her, surely the mystery 
of her mother’s history must influence 
him against her. 

At the same instant the girl’s cheeks 
grew hot with embarrassment. Then she 
deliberately struggled to discover a differ- 
ent train of thought. But for some reason, 
no matter along what road her thoughts 
set out, they had a curious fashion of in- 
cluding Dick before the end was reached. 
So at last Nona gave up and let her imagi- 
nation have its will. 

When he came back an hour after their 
usual luncheon time, Dick found her not 
in the least impatient. She insisted that 
she had enjoyed herself, and her face and 
manner gave proof of it. 

But Dick was tired and not so cheerful 
as he had been earlier in the day. His 
work was over temporarily, but he had 
found a most depressing state of things 
among his poor people. Moreover, Dick 
was hungry, when a masculine person is 
always difficult. 


212 


In Belgium 


They discovered a little restaurant ex- 
isting in a half-hearted fashion near the 
University. After a leisurely meal, it must 
have been past three o^clock when finally 
the two friends made their way into the 
University grounds. 

The buildings were not all entirely de- 
stroyed by the German bombardment, as 
the newspapers gave us to understand 
after the fall of Liege. Possibly many of 
them can be restored when the present 
war is over. 

Up and down the Rue de Namur the 
young Americans wandered, first investi- 
gating the ruins of the handsome Gothic 
Halles. The Library is perhaps the most 
complete wreck, and it was one of the most 
valuable libraries in Europe. For it con- 
tained many priceless manuscripts gathered 
together by the old monks, who were once 
teachers in this most famous Catholic 
university in Europe. 

The University of Louvain was founded 
in the fifteenth century by Pope Martin V, 
and only a little over a year ago sheltered 
eighteen hundred students. 


Louvain 


213 


But they have disappeared even as the 
bricks and mortar of the centuries have 
been brought to confusion. 

Finally after nearly two hours of sight- 
seeing Dick and Nona confessed to each 
other that they were too weary to feel 
any further interest in their surroundings. 
Moreover, they were obliged to rest before 
returning to the railroad station. 

Nothing could be more romantic than 
the spot they chose. 

With a half tumbled down wall for a 
background and a tall tree for a screen, 
a ♦small green bench lingered serenely. It 
was as comfortable and undisturbed as 
though no destruction had raged about it. 

With a sigh of relief Dick dropped down 
beside his companion. 

“If you don’t mind. I’d rather not speak 
for five entire minutes,” he suggested. 
Afterwards perhaps I may tell you some- 
thing about which I have been thinking 
more or less all day. But I am not yet 
convinced that I ought to mention it to 
you, though with all my heart I wish to 
know what you think and feel upon the 
subject.” 


214 


In Belgium 


In reply Nona only nodded agreement. 

Then she folded her hands in her lap 
and sat gazing quietly at the unique scene 
about them. 

In a little while twilight would fall. 
The atmosphere was already a pale violet 
and over the massed ruins of the ancient 
buildings the sun was declining peacefully. 
Except for the girl and her companion 
the neighborhood v^as deserted, not a man, 
woman or child, not even a dog could be 
discovered in the nearby streets. 


CHAPTER XVII 


“ Sisters under the Skin ” 

TER a little while the silence be- 



tween the girl and man grew self 


conscious. Both of them seemed 
to recognize this at the same moment, and 
Dick turned apologetically toward his com- 
panion. 

“I am sorry to continue so stupid,” he 
explained, “but I have been thinking 
something over for the nine hundred and 
ninety-ninth time.” 

In spite of the coolness of the October 
afternoon Dick now took off his hat and in 
a boyish fashion ran his fingers through his 
hair. Immediately the curly pompadour 
he so detested arose, while under his dark 
skin the color was rushing in warm waves. 

“I say, Nona,” he began in an awkward 
fashion, his charming manners entirely 
deserting him, “has it ever struck you 
that I have had something very much at 


( 215 ) 


216 


In Belgium 


heart for the past few months, something 
I have not been able to mention? It has 
seemed to me as if the whole world must 
know of it, although I have never spoken 
a word. Yet even Mildred has appeared 
totally blind. Of course there was a reason 
once why I should keep my dream to 
myself, but lately that reason no longer 
exists.” Then Dick laughed unexpectedly. 

‘‘Here I am talking like a school-boy 
who does not know his lesson! I don’t 
suppose you have the faintest idea of 
what I am trying to say? Wonder if you 
have ever guessed my secret, Nona?” 

Dick had swung himself around on the 
bench so that he might be able to gaze 
more directly at his companion. But 
Nona Davis’ head was for the instant in 
profile. 

Just then she preferred not to catch 
Dick’s glance. Her own cheeks were deli- 
cately flushed and indeed the world had 
acquired a new fragrance. Yet oddly Nona 
wished to hug her emotion to herself. 

There is a moment when the spirit of 
romance appears to every girl in some 


“ Sisters Under the Skin ” 


217 


lovely guise. Now Nona Davis felt that 
no moment and no scene could be more 
picturesque than her own. 

Dick Thornton was ideally handsome; 
moreover, the fact that one of his arms 
was now useless only added to his value. 
For was not Dick a soldier of peace rather 
than of war, yet one who had made the 
same sacrifice.^ And he had given him- 
self for a cause that was not his own. 

‘‘No, I have not guessed, Dick,^’ Nona 
replied an instant later. “How could I.^ 
If you have a secret you have certainly 
not betrayed yourself. Besides, if I had 
been able to discover what you had in 
mind, I should not have allowed myself 
to know. No one has the right to interpret 
another person’s thoughts.” 

Nona made this speech with entire inno- 
cence, but she was to recall the last phrase 
within a few moments. 

“Well, I’ll start off with a piece of news 
I am sure you will be pleased to hear,” 
Dick began. “I wanted to tell Barbara 
first, but we were interrupted the other 
afternoon. It is only that I think I am to 


218 


In Belgium 


have better luck with this lame arm of 
mine than I deserve. When I was in 
Paris the surgeons told me to leave it alone, 
that I stood a chance of being able to use 
it later on. So I tried to forget the whole 
matter. Then one day several weeks ago 
without thinking I discovered that I could 
use my arm the least bit. Of course, it 
is by no means well, but each day the arm 
grows stronger 

With this news Nona stretched out her 
hand toward her companion. But Dick 
did not see her, as he chanced to be gazing 
at his afflicted arm in the half tender, half 
apologetic fashion in which one surveys 
a backward child. 

‘‘The doctors I have seen since I made 
the discovery say my arm will be as good 
as new in another few months,’' Dick went 
on. “I have only to have it massaged 
daily and wait for the vigor to come back. 
So I may be able to amount to a little 
something in the world after all. Perhaps 
a man with a lot of brains may manage 
to get along with no arms, but I’m afraid 
/ require the full amount.” 


“ Sisters Under the Skin ’’ 


219 


By nature Nona Davis was inclined to 
be serious. Therefore she could never 
understand the fashion in which Barbara 
and Dick were able to jest over their deeper 
emotions. 

Her yellow-brown eyes were serious now. 

“I am sure / have never doubted your 
future for a moment, Dick. It sounds 
ridiculous to hear you make a speech like 
that. I am sure your father is a distin- 
guished man, yet I feel sure you will be a 
greater one some day.’^ 

For half a moment Dick smiled upon 
his companion-. ‘‘You are an optimist, 
Nona, but just the same I am tremen- 
dously grateful to you.” 

Then in a surprising fashion his gay 
spirits suddenly deserted him. For he 
frowned moodily toward the purple and 
rose colored sky on the far western side 
of the horizon. 

The sun was by this time about to retire 
and the colors in the evening sky were 
merely the garments she had cast off in 
passing. 

‘‘I wish you could persuade Barbara 


220 


In Belgium 


Meade to share that idea of yours, Nona?” 
Dick continued a moment later. ‘‘If you 
could you would be doing me an immense 
service.” 

“Barbara?” Nona repeated her friend’s 
name dully. She was so far away from 
any thought of her at the time that it was 
difficult to readjust her point of view. 
“What is it you wish me to persuade Bar- 
bara to believe?” she demanded the next 
instant. For in her surprise she had for- 
gotten her own remark. 

“Oh, that I am worthy of bearing my 
father’s name and that there is a chance 
I may not turn out a hopeless good-for- 
nothing,” Dick went on, with a scarcely 
concealed bitterness in his voice. 

‘‘Two years ago when I first met Bar- 
bara I suppose I was only a society fellow, 
but really I was not so bad as I painted 
myself. Fact is, I rather enjoyed arousing 
Mildred’s little western friend in the early 
days. Well, I accomplished my purpose 
with a vengeance, for Barbara has never 
had an ounce of respect for me. Even if 
you and Mildred have never guessed how 


“ Sisters Under the Skin ’’ 


221 


much I care for her, the fact has been 
plain enough to Barbara. What other 
reason could she have, except to spare 
me humiliation, for refusing to have any- 
thing to do with me since I came to Brus- 
sels.^ But you have understood the situa- 
tion better than you confess, Nona. Be 
sure that I appreciate your kindness im- 
mensely.^’ 

Still Nona made no reply. However, 
as Dick had been holding his emotions 
in check for many weeks, he was glad now 
to have a chance to let them overflow.” 

‘H appreciated that you understood when 
I first asked you to write me, after you 
left Paris,” the young man continued. 
‘^Your letters meant so much to me, for 
they used to tell me so many things of Bar- 
bara and your life together in the little 
French farmhouse.” 

Interrupting himself, Dick glanced at 
his watch and then at his companion. 

You look tired, Nona, and I am sorry, 
but I expect we must hurry if we are to 
get to the station in time for the six o’clock 
train to Brussels. You have been won- 


222 


In Belgium 


derfully patient with me this afterncwDn 
and I hope not too bored. Perhaps I 
should have kept all this to myself, but 
at last it has overflowed. I shall never 
refer to the matter again and shall be 
grateful if you do not mention it.” 

Dick held out his right hand to help 
his companion arise. 

But for another instant Nona did not 
stir. Neither did she glance upward. 
Her eyes had dropped to her lap and were 
evidently fastened upon her slender hands, 
which she held lightly clasped together. 

Possibly she had become a shade paler, 
but not by a flicker of an eyelash did she 
betray that her house of cards had sud- 
denly fallen. 

The next moment she gave her hand to 
Dick and got up. 

‘H am not tired, so let us walk on quickly 
if you think best. I am going to be honest 
and tell you, Dick, that I have never 
dreamed you were seriously interested in 
Barbara until this hour. I knew you 
were friends at one time and that Barbara 
had done a beautiful thing for you. But 


“ Sisters Under the Skin ” 


223 


I thought you had probably quarreled, 
or that you did not find each other so in- 
teresting as you had at first.’’ 

The girl was walking along swiftly as 
she talked. 

Her delicate chin was lifted a little 
higher than usual and because of her 
pallor her lips showed a deeper crimson. 
She was a lovely height and slender and 
graceful, but beyond everything else she 
had the air of perfect breeding. 

Dick’s own train of thought was diverted 
for a moment by a glance at her. 

After all, it is not an impossibility, 
Nona Davis’ mother may turn out a foreign 
princess,” he thought, and then smiled. 
For Dick was a typical American man 
and to him a mystery in one’s family was 
ridiculous when it was not unpleasant. 

On the train returning to Brussels neither 
he nor his companion cared to talk a great 
deal. Indeed, Nona frankly explained 
that there was something she wished to 
think about, and if Dick did not mind, 
would he please leave her alone. So he 
was satisfied to continue sympathetically 
silent. 


224 


In Belgium 


He had unloosed certain thoughts of 
his own which were not so easy to chain 
up again. 

However, they still had a half hour 
before their arrival in Brussels when Nona 
unexpectedly returned to their former sub- 
ject of conversation. 

“You asked me never to refer to your 
confession, Dick, and I won’t again after 
today. But first I must tell you some- 
thing. Then if you’ll forgive me I want 
to offer you a piece of advice. I know it 
is an ungrateful present, but you’ll listen, 
won’t you.^” Nona pleaded. 

Dick’s brown eyes were very friendly. 
“I’ll listen to whatever you wish to tell 
me forever and ever,” he insisted. “For 
there was never quite so kind an audience 
as you have been to me!” 

The girl was glad of the flickering lights 
in the railroad carriage, when she spoke 
again. 

“It is only that I have been thinking 
of you and Barbara ever since we left 
Louvain,” she added. “I told you I was 
surprised at the news. But now I think 
it was stupid of me. What I want is to 


Sisters Under the Skin ” 225 


ask you to tell Barbara what you have 
confided to me this afternoon. I under- 
stand that when you were uncertain about 
your arm, you may have felt that a draw- 
back. Now you have every right to believe 
in your recovery and” — Nona hesitated 
and smiled directly into Dick’s somber 
brown eyes — ‘‘oh, well, it is only fair that 
Barbara be allowed the same information 
that I have received under the circum- 
stances!” 

At this moment it was Dick who would 
not be humorous. 

“I suppose you think I ought to give 
Barbara the satisfaction of telling me 
what she really thinks of me. But I am 
afraid I am not willing to amuse her to 
that extent.” 

Nona shook her head. “That wasn’t 
worthy of you, Dick; I know you did not 
mean it. I am not going to give up. I 
want you to promise me that whenever 
the chance comes you will let Barbara 
have some idea of your feeling for her.” 

This time Nona held both her hands 
tight together. 


15 


226 


In Belgium 


“I can’t explain to you, Dick, so please 
don’t ask me why,” she continued. “But 
I have been thinking that there may be 
another reason why Barbara has seemed 
less friendly with you since your arrival 
in Brussels. Girls sometimes get strange 
ideas in their minds. But there we are 
coming into Brussels. Thank you for my 
day in Louvain, I shall not forget it!” 


CHAPTER XVIII 


Difficulties 

P erhaps it was due to Nona Davis^ 
advice, or perhaps to Dick Thorn- 
ton’s own judgment, that he decided 
to make his position clear to Barbara. 

He had no thought of her returning his 
liking; nevertheless, a confession appeared 
the more manly and straightforward. 

But beginning the next day’s events 
moved ahead so swiftly that there was 
never a chance for Dick to carry out his 
intention. 

By noon a message was sent him by his 
sister Mildred. She explained that soon 
after breakfast she had been summoned 
to the German prison for a consultation 
in regard to Eugenia Peabody. She found 
the prison officers both embarrassed and 
annoyed. 

For the young American woman whom 
they had been compelled to arrest had 
( 227 ) 


228 


In Belgium 


become dangerously ill. They had not 
been prepared for such a contingency. 
She had been locked up in what had for- 
merly served as an ordinary jail in Brussels 
and there were no accommodations for 
seriously ill persons. 

They could not determine what should 
be done. It was extremely awkward to 
have their prison doctor declare the pris- 
oner a victim of typhoid fever, and to 
have the physician sent from the American 
Relief Committee confirm his opinion. 

Suppose this Miss Peabody should be 
so inconsiderate as to die.^ The fact 
might arouse international complications 
and would certainly precipitate unpleasant 
discussion. 

The young woman had been kept a 
prisoner for something over a month with- 
out a trial, but even in this time important 
pressure had been exerted for her release. 

Because she had been an American Red 
Cross nurse, naturally all Red Cross socie- 
ties were interested. Moreover, she was 
said to be a member of an old and prom- 
inent New England family, who would 


Difficulties 


229 


make themselves heard in her behalf. 
Then as this Miss Peabody was herself 
wealthy and had been using her money 
for the benefit of the Belgian children, 
what might not be said in her defense.^ 
There was a chance that the German 
government would be accused of resenting 
her care of the Belgian children. 

In order to show their good feeling, 
Mildred had been permitted to visit Eu- 
genia. She found her friend in a small 
room like a cell. It was of stone with only 
one window, a stool and a cot bed. 

But whatever Eugenia must have suf- 
fered for her breach of faith, she was 
now past being disturbed by mental un- 
happiness. 

For an hour Mildred sat beside her 
friend trying to arouse her. But Eugenia 
gave no sign of recognition. She did not 
seem to be enduring pain, but was in a 
stupor from fever. 

Mildred felt unhappy and helpless. 
There was but little chance of her friend’s 
recovery if she remained without the right 
care. Moreover, the American Red Cross 


230 


In Belgium 


girls owed it to one another to keep to- 
gether through good and evil fortunes. 

“What would Eugenia have done for 
one of them under the same circumstances 
Mildred tried her best to decide. She 
implored the prison authorities to allow 
her to remain and care for her friend. 
But they refused. It was not that they 
were unwilling for their prisoner to be 
properly looked after. It was that there 
were no arrangements whereby it was 
practical for Mildred Thornton to con- 
tinue at the prison. She could come each 
day and stay for a time with her friend. 
And this was, of course, a surprising con- 
cession. 

So after Mildred returned to her own 
quarters she had sent a note of explanation 
to her brother. 

Then began the most anxious week that 
the American Red Cross girls had endured 
since their arrival in Europe. Before now 
anxiety had harassed one or two of them 
at a time. Now they were all equally 
concerned. 

Eugenia did not grow better. From day 


Difficulties 


231 


to day the report of her condition became 
worse. Mildred Thornton was the only 
one of the three girls ever allowed to enter 
Eugenia’s room at the prison. However, 
Nona and Barbara hovered about the 
neighborhood like restless ghosts. Indeed, 
they now appeared as deeply attached to 
each other as in the early days of their 
acquaintance. 

Nor was Dick Thornton much less anx- 
ious. He had always liked and admired 
Eugenia. Although he disapproved her 
action in regard to Colonel Carton, it was 
not possible wholly to object to it. One 
had to have a sneaking sense of apprecia- 
tion for a girl or man who would risk so 
much for an entire stranger. 

However, interest in Eugenia’s condi- 
tion was not confined to her few friends. 
In a little while her case became the most 
talked of in Brussels among the Americans 
and their acquaintances. Then the news 
of Eugenia’s arrest and the reason for it 
appeared in the American daily papers 
together with the account of her critical 
illness. Afterwards these facts were copied 


232 


In Belgium 


in the newspapers of England, France and 
Russia. Eugenia became an international 
figure. 

Now and then Barbara tried to smile, 
thinking how Eugenia would have resented 
her notoriety had she been aware of it. 
But the idea did not create much mirth. 
It was so far from amusing to picture 
one’s friend at the point of death, shut up 
in a tiny room, with only such crude care 
as the prison physician and nurse could 
give her. 

The situation was unendurable; never- 
theless, like a great many other situations 
about which one says this same thing, it 
had to be endured. 

The German officials in command of the 
city of Brussels assuredly grew weary of 
visits from white-faced American girls and 
their friends, all bent upon the same quest. 
Was it not possible that Eugenia be re- 
moved to a hospital or to her own home 
until she recovered.^ 

The answer remained the same. Much 
as the situation was to be deplored, one 
could not surrender a prisoner because of 
ill health. Discipline must be enforced. 


Difficulties 


233 


Then a day came when Mildred and 
Dick Thornton were granted an unexpected 
interview with the American Minister in 
Brussels. They had seen him several 
times before, but on this occasion it was 
the Minister who sent for them. 

He had previously been kind and in- 
terested in Eugenia’s case, but so far his 
good will had not availed in her behalf. 
He could only offer his good will, because 
it was not possible to demand the prison- 
er’s liberation when she had frankly con- 
fessed her offense against the German 
administration. 

Yet as soon as they were permitted to 
enter the study where the Minister was 
seated at his desk, Mildred Thornton had 
her first moment of hopefulness. For Mr. 
Whitlock had become her friend since this 
trouble began and his expression indicated 
good news. 

There was no use going into particu- 
lars,” he declared, ‘‘but some days before 
he had received certain letters from Wash- 
ington. It appeared that Judge Thornton 
had been to Washington in Eugenia's 


234 


In Belgium 


behalf, according to his daughter's request, 
where he must have interviewed persons 
of importance.” Whatever took place the 
American Minister now announced that he 
had placed Judge Thornton’s communica- 
tions before the proper German officials. 
Whether they were influenced by these 
letters, or whether they concluded that 
there was more to be lost than gained by 
detaining their prisoner under the present 
conditions, it is impossible to say. The 
important fact was that Eugenia might 
at last be moved to her own house. There 
she was to be allowed to stay under guard 
until such time as she could safely leave 
the country. She would then be con- 
ducted, to the border line of Holland and 
allowed to depart. But Eugenia Peabody 
was never again to set foot within a Ger- 
man country during the course of the 
present war. If she should enter it she 
would immediately become liable to arrest. 

So in spite of the possible danger Eugenia 
was immediately removed to her own 
house in the woods, the house supposedly 
inhabited by a ghost. 


Difficulties 


235 


But instead of ghosts it was now haunted 
by the other three Red Cross girls, all of 
whom insisted upon sharing the labor of ^ 
caring for Eugenia and looking after her 
home. 

Yet after all it was on Barbara Meade 
that the largest share of the burden fell. 
For the children had grown accustomed to 
her since their first friend’s departure. 
Then by a freak of chance Eugenia seemed 
to wish Barbara near her the greater part 
of the time. She was not conscious, so 
her desire was only an eccentricity of ill- 
ness. Nevertheless, Barbara naturally tried 
to be with her friend whenever it was 
humanly possible. 

So it is easy to see why Dick Thornton 
found no opportunity to confide to Bar- 
bara the dream that lay so near his heart. 
He saw her now and then, of course, in 
his own frequent visits to the household, 
but seldom alone. 

Occasionally, when for a moment he 
had a chance for a quiet word with her, 
Dick was not willing to intrude his own 
desires. 


236 


In Belgium 


Barbara looked so worn and fragile 
these days. The roundness had gone from 
her cheeks as well as their color, her eyes 
and lips rarely smiled. It would only 
trouble her further to have him cast his 
burden upon her. For Barbara would, of 
course, be sorry to cause him unhappiness. 
So Dick decided to wait until serener times. 

One afternoon, however, the opportunity 
for entrusting one of his secrets arrived. 

For the past three days Eugenia had been 
growing continuously weaker. The crisis 
of her disease had passed and her fever 
was not so high. But her weakness had 
become a more dangerous symptom. 

About four o^clock Dick drove out to 
the house in the woods with Dr. Mason, 
who was one of the physicians devoting 
himself to Eugenia’s case. 

He did not go indoors, but asked that 
one of the three American Red Cross 
girls be sent out to speak to him. It 
was a cold afternoon, yet the sun was 
shining and Dick felt that the fresh air 
would be of benefit. No matter which 
of the three girls was free to join him. 


Difficulties 


237 


they could walk up and down in the yard 
for a few minutes. The suspense of wait- 
ing for Dr. Mason^s verdict would be less 
severe outdoors than shut up inside. 

But although Dick walked up and down 
the front porch for quite ten minutes, no 
one appeared. Either Dr. Mason had 
forgotten to deliver his message or else 
the girls were too busy or too nervous 
to leave the house. 

Dick finally grew weary of the veranda 
as a place for a promenade. A little later 
some one would be sure to come out to 
him, and in the meantime he would walk 
a short distance into the woods. 

A few yards along the path the young 
man stumbled across Barbara. 

She was wearing her gray blue nursing 
cape and was sitting upon a log. She 
looked so tiny and was huddled so close 
that Dick somehow thought of a little 
gray squirrel. 

Barbara was too engrossed in her thoughts 
to hear him until he was almost upon her. 
Then Dick grew frightened, because in- 
stead of speaking she jumped to her feet 


238 


In Belgium 


and put up her hand to her throat as if 
she were choking. 

It did not occur to Dick that she was 
terrified. He did not dream that she had 
run away from the house because she dared 
not wait to hear Dr. Mason’s decision in 
regard to Eugenia. Now, of course, she 
thought him sent to her with a message. 

And the worst of it was Dick did not 
say a word. He simply stared at her, 
mute and sorrowful, because gay little 
Bab had become such a pathetic figure on 
this November afternoon. 

Dick’s silence could mean but one thing 
to the girl. 

She made a little fluttering sound, wav- 
ered, and the next moment Dick was hold- 
ing her upright on her feet with both his 
arms. 

At this same instant Barbara forgot both 
Eugenia and herself. 

She had felt the world growing dark 
before her eyes a moment before. Now a 
miracle brought her back to her senses. 

She drew herself away at once and stood 
upright. Then placed both her hands on 
Dick Thornton’s two arms. 


Difficulties 


239 


‘‘Dick,” she said in an awed tone, 
“didn’t you use both your arms just now, 
when you kept me from falling?” 

Her companion nodded. 

“I have been meaning to tell you, Bar^ 
bara, but you have been too busy with 
other things. My arm has been growing 
stronger each day, but I didn’t know my- 
self until this minute that I could use the 
lame one as easily as the good. I suppose 
because I was frightened about you, I 
forgot my own weakness.” 

Then while. Barbara was gazing at her 
friend in silence, but with her eyes express- 
ing her joy in his news, Mildred Thornton 
came running along the path toward them. 

“Dr. Mason says Eugenia is much better 
this afternoon. He has the greatest hopes 
of her,” she cried, while still several yards 
away. 

“Gene recognized Nona and asked for 
something to eat. Nona says she even 
objected to the way in which she gave 
her medicine, so I suppose we have the 
old Gene back again. Come with me, 
Barbara dear. Dr. Mason says we may 


240 


In Belgium 


both speak to her. Afterwards she is to 
be left alone to go to sleep and I shall 
have to try to keep the children quiet. 
You must see if you can get Jan away 
from her door. The boy has not moved 
from there since six o’clock this morning.” 

Then Mildred condescended to recognize 
her brother. But after kissing him hur- 
riedly, she put her arm about Barbara’s 
waist and both girls fled back to the house. 

Later, Dick returned to town without 
seeing either one of them again that 
afternoon. 


CHAPTER XIX 


En Route 

B arbara MEADE was chosen as 
the suitable one of the three girls 
to accompany Eugenia out of Bel- 
gium. 

There were a number of reasons for this 
decision, but the most important was that 
her friends agreed she was most in need 
of a change. Another point was that 
Eugenia appeared to prefer to have her. 

But the journey could not be expected 
to be an altogether pleasant one. Eugenia 
was still ill enough to be a responsibility, 
and, moreover, the German authorities did 
not hesitate to express their wish to be 
rid of her as soon as possible. It was for 
this reason that the trip was planned as 
soon as it was in the least feasible. 

Toward the middle of December the 
preparations for departure were finally 
concluded. It was arranged that Nona 

( 241 ) 


16 


242 


In Belgium 


Davis and Mildred Thornton should remain 
in charge of Eugenia’s house in the woods 
for a time. For the children must continue 
being cared for. Therefore, the American 
hospital in Brussels had agreed temporarily 
to dispense with their services. Later on 
perhaps it might be possible to make a 
more definite arrangement. But at pres- 
ent Nona and Mildred were both pleased 
to have a change in their work. Besides, 
this change afforded them the chance to 
stay on with their friends until the actual 
time of their leave-taking. 

Neither of the four girls ever forgot the 
final moment of farewell. 

Since daylight they had talked about 
everything else under the sun except the 
fact that they might not meet again for 
many months. For under the circum- 
stances naturally their future plans were 
indefinite. 

Barbara and Eugenia had been informed 
that they would be escorted to the frontiers 
of Holland. Once within the neutral state 
no further observation would be made of 
them and they could go where they chose. 


En Route 


243 


They had determined to cross at once 
to England and then, lingering only long 
enough for Eugenia to rest, to travel by 
slow stages to southern France. Once 
there, they were once more to take refuge 
in the little Farmhouse with the Blue 
Front Door.*’ 

For in the midst of Eugenia’s illness a 
letter had arrived from Madame Castaigne. 
In it she had demanded that Miss Peabody 
be removed at once from a country at 
present overrun by barbarians. In her 
opinion, the American Red Cross girls 
should never have departed from the pro- 
tection of her beloved France. Whenever 
it was possible the farmhouse was at their 
disposal. Moreover, Madame Castaigne 
suffered for their companionship. For she 
and Frangois had been entirely alone for 
months. Captain Castaigne was away in 
another part of the country with his 
regiment. 

So it had been both Eugenia’s and Bar- 
bara’s fancy to go back for a time to the 
little house they had both loved. When 
Eugenia had entirely recovered her health, 
they could then decide on the next step. 


244 


In Belgium 


At Eugenia^s request no one of their 
many friends in Brussels came out to say 
good-bye on the last day. For her own 
sake and the happiness of the children she 
wished her departure to be as quiet as 
possible. 

She and Barbara were therefore ready 
and waiting by noon, when the German 
officer arrived who was to take them to 
the border line. 

Neither of the girls had been informed 
who this man might be, nor what his char- 
acter and rank. 

Personally, Barbara felt a considerable 
anxiety. So much of the comfort of the 
first of their journey would depend on 
his courtesy. Then there was the chance 
that Eugenia might be less strong than 
they hoped and fall ill again along the 
way. 

Yet Eugenia herself seemed to have no 
qualms upon the subject. Her one desire 
appeared to be to get away, to return to 
the country she had wilfully turned her 
back upon. For it had been chiefly due 
to Eugenia’s influence that the American 


En Route 


245 


Red Cross girls had left France to begin a 
new service in Belgium. 

Finally, when the German officer arrived, 
Nona, Mildred and Barbara were equally 
discouraged by his manner and appearance. 

In the first place, he was a man of a 
rough and surly exterior. He was only a 
sergeant, with an overbearing and insolent 
method of speaking. Indeed, he made no 
pretence of treating Eugenia in any way 
except as an intruder who had come dan- 
gerously near being a traitor to his govern- 
ment. Therefore, he had nothing but scorn 
and dislike of her. 

He would have chosen to travel with 
his prisoner in handcuffs, but since this 
had been forbidden she should be allowed 
no other consideration. 

So Nona and Mildred had to kiss their 
friends good-bye with the German sergeant 
staring at them disdainfully. Then before 
they realized what was taking place they 
beheld Eugenia and Barbara being marched 
down the path toward a car which was to 
take them to their train. 

Eugenia could scarcely keep up with 


246 


In Belgium 


the rapid pace demanded of her. She 
looked very ill and fragile and Barbara 
very tiny to have her clinging for support 
to her arm. 

Neither Mildred nor Nona could see 
distinctly at the last. Afterwards they 
remembered that Eugenia and Bab had 
both waved their hands just as the motor 
car plunged ahead down the narrow path 
through the woods. 

They had promised to write as soon as 
it was possible to get a letter through the 
lines. But there was a chance that their 
mail must first be sent to the United States 
and then have to recross the ocean. 

Naturally the two girls who had been 
left behind were deeply depressed. Yet 
they had little time for reflection. For 
Eugenia had asked that the children be 
given a feast as soon as she was safely 
out of the way. Moreover, there was 
Nicolete dissolved in tears ! She had 
wished to accompany her friend, but on 
account of Monsieur Bebe’s helplessness 
had been persuaded to remain behind. 

Work is ever the solace of sorrow, as 


En Route 


247 


Mildred and Nona both discovered ten 
minutes after their parting from the other 
two Red Cross girls. 

But Eugenia and Barbara had no such 
immediate consolation. 

Half a dozen times in the next few hours 
Barbara greatly desired to start a war on 
her own account. Yet in spite of her 
somewhat fiery temperament she could say 
and do nothing. It was not on her own 
account that she was so angry, but for 
the sake of her friend. 

For notwithstanding her apparent weak- 
ness, Eugenia was forced to travel in a 
train so crowded that she started upon 
her journey standing up. Barbara’s pro- 
test against this as an impossibility availed 
nothing. But a few moments later a 
Belgian woman took compassion upon them. 
She was old but sturdy and determined 
and Eugenia’s refusal to occupy her place 
she would not consider. Moreover, the 
girl had by this time reached such a con- 
dition that she must either sit down or 
fall. Though desiring her to be as wretched 
as possible, even her guard appreciated 
this fact. 


248 


In Belgium 


Afterwards Barbara decided that she 
had never gone through more trying hours 
than those she endured on their way into 
Holland. 

Eugenia scarcely spoke a dozen words. 
Indeed, she appeared happily unconscious 
of a great deal of the insolence leveled at 
her. But Barbara missed nothing. The 
sergeant’s every glance at Eugenia was an 
insult, whenever he spoke to her it was 
with a growl. Perhaps his task of driving 
an American girl out of a once friendly 
country was such a disagreeable one that 
no one except a bear would have wished 
to undertake it. 

However, both Barbara and Eugenia 
were willing exiles. The moment w'hen 
the girls realized that their feet were upon 
Dutch soil was the happiest they had spent 
in many weeks. For here at last their 
guard said good-bye to them. At least, 
though he used no words, his behavior 
had the effect of a good-bye. What he 
actually did was to deposit them upon 
the platform of a railroad station, then 
with a grunt of disfavor turn and stride 


En Route 


249 


away. But the girls both knew that the 
next train on which they were to travel 
would run through the peaceful Dutch 
country. 

By night they arrived at a Dutch port. 
In spite of the peril of floating mines and 
submarines the Holland passenger boats 
were still making their nightly journeys to 
the English coast. 

Naturally there were but few passengers 
aboard, as no one was crossing for pleasure. 
But tonight there were a small number of 
business men and a few women. 

At eight o’clock in the evening their 
boat sailed, and immediately after Barbara 
and Eugenia went to bed. Food was 
brought to their stateroom, but they were 
too weary and too excited to eat, so it 
was scarcely nine o’clock when they were 
both sound asleep. 

Of course they appreciated the possible 
danger of their crossing. But as a matter 
of fact neither Barbara nor Eugenia gave 
the idea five minutes’ thought. When one 
has lived in the midst of war’s tragedies 
and terrors, one no longer worries over 


250 


In Belgium 


possible misfortunes. There Is time enough 
when the blow falls. 

Therefore, at midnight the two friends 
were peacefully sleeping, when they were 
awakened by an extraordinary sensation 
and then a tumultuous noise. 

, Suddenly their little steamer had come 
to an abrupt halt In mid-sea. There was 
no warning, no gradual slowing down. One 
moment they had been traveling at full 
speed, the next they were at a complete 
standstill. Then there began a tremendous 
rushing about on the deck above the floor 
where the two American Red Cross girls 
had their berths. Soon after a heavy 
splash followed as If something had been 
dropped Into the sea. 

Although they were both awakened with 
the first reversal of the boat^s engines, 
neither of the girls spoke until after the 
noise subsided. 

Then It was Eugenia. 

‘‘ Something extraordinary has happened, 
Bab dear,^’ she said quietly. “I think 
you had best go and see what It Is. I 
have a feeling that perhaps our boat Is 


En Route 


251 


going to sink. But there has been no 
explosion so far!” 

Eugenia was extraordinarily calm, al- 
most passive. One may not believe this 
state of mind to be possible, but wait 
until you have had just such a personal 
experience with danger. 

Barbara’s answer was to scramble quickly 
out of the upper berth. She chanced to 
be wearing a warm blue wrapper which 
served as a gown. So now she only needed 
to slip her fur coat over it and pull down 
her gray squirrel cap over her brown curls. 

‘‘Be getting dressed, Eugenia, while I 
find out what has happened. I’ll come 
back in a moment,” she advised. 

But once outside her stateroom, Barbara 
discovered only a mild excitement. A few 
passengers were running up and down the 
narrow hallway, clinging to scanty cos- 
tumes. One of them explained the situa- 
tion to Barbara. 

“Nothing’s much amiss, we are all get- 
ting too nervous these days,” he com- 
mented. “Our ship has just run up against 
a solid bank of fog. As we can’t see an 


252 


In Belgium 


inch ahead of us, our captain has too good 
sense to go on in the darkness. We may 
have to stay here an hour, or twenty-four, 
there is no telling. Hope a submarine 
won’t come along and pick us off.” And 
with this parting pleasantry Barbara’s new 
acquaintance departed. 

The next instant Barbara returned and 
opened her stateroom door. 

‘‘Go back to sleep. Gene dear, every- 
thing is serene,” she said reassuringly; 
“there is only a heavy fog at sea. I want 
to go up on deck and investigate, so please 
don’t worry about me.” 

A few moments later Barbara was grop- 
ing her way about on deck until she dis- 
covered an empty steamer chair. This 
she crawled into, tucking her feet up under 
her and snuggling down close in the dark- 
ness. She could still hear the sailors rush- 
ing about on deck. Now and then she 
could even catch the dim outline of a 
figure, but nothing else was discernible. 
The very lights suspended from the ship’s 
side were pale and flickering. 

Yet it was all immensely interesting. 


En Route 


253 


Outside the ship both sky and water had 
apparently ceased to exist. One could see 
only a solid mass of gray-black fog like a 
wet and heavy veil overspreading the world. 

Barbara had recovered from her fatigue 
with her few hours of sleep. Never had 
she felt more wide awake or more excited. 
If only it were possible to see more. 

Suddenly she jumped up from her chair. 
It is true the decks were wet and slippery 
and since she could not see her way about, 
nor be seen, she might be in danger of 
falling. Nevertheless, Barbara decided to 
risk the danger. A tumble more or less 
need not be serious and she was freezing 
from sitting still. And yet she had not 
the faintest intention or desire of going 
back to her stateroom. 

The fog might last for many hours, 
but then there was the chance that it 
might lift at any moment. Barbara 
greatly desired to see the spectacle of a 
familiar world emerging from darkness into 
light. 

Fortunately her side of the deck appeared 
to be entirely deserted. 


254 


In Belgium 


She rose and walked a few steps up and 
down, compelled to go slowly, for the fog 
lay like a damp weight upon her chest, 
pressing her backward with its dim, in- 
visible hands. 

But after a little time, growing bolder 
when the desire to gaze down into the 
water swept over her, she turned and 
walked blindly forward. Within a few 
paces she reached out to grasp the ship’s 
rails. 

But instead her hands touched some- 
thing warm and human. Immediately 
she gave a smothered cry of embarrass- 
ment and fright. 

‘‘I am so sorry,” she murmured apolo- 
getically, then with a characteristic laugh. 
“But really I don’t know whether I have 
run into you or you into me. Will you 
please move to the right and I’ll go to the 
left. Then we need never meet again.” 

“Barbara,” began a familiar voice. 

For the second time the girl’s hands 
stretched forward, but this time they clung 
to the coat of the young fellow standing 
withii> a few feet of her. 


En Route 


255 


‘‘Dick Thornton, can it be possible this 
is you, when you are in Brussels?’’ she 
protested. “But then how can it be any 
one except you, although I have not seen 
you. If it is only your ghost I am hold- 
ing on to, at least it is a very substantial 
one, and I never was so glad to meet any 
other ghost in my life.” 

In answer Dick Thornton laughed out 
loud. “Did anyone in the world ever 
talk in such a ridiculous fashion as Bar- 
bara, and yet was there ever anyone so 
delightful?” He slipped his arm through 
the girl’s. 

“Let us walk up and down for a few 
moments while I explain the reality of my 
presence,” he suggested, quietly taking his 
companion’s consent for granted. 

“Personally, I think it would be the 
more surprising if I were not here. Did 
you think for an instant I would allow you 
and Eugenia to go on this long trip alone, 
when Eugenia has been so ill? I did not 
mention the subject to you girls, since I 
did not intend to have a discussion. But 
whether you allow it or not I shall be your 


256 


In Belgium 


faithful follower until you reach the little 
French farmhouse.” 

Barbara’s eyes were swimming with un- 
expected tears. 

‘‘You are the kindest person in the 
world always, Dick,” she answered. “And 
I can’t tell you how glad I am to have 
you with us! I did dread the responsibility 
of Gene more than I would confess. Be- 
sides, I want you to see our ‘House with 
the Blue Front Door.’ But I wonder if 
it is fair to Mildred and Nona to have 
you leave them for even a short time ? 
Your place is with them rather than any 
one else, isn’t it?” 

“My place is beside you, Barbara, when- 
ever you are willing to have me,” Dick 
returned in such a matter-of-fact fashion 
that his companion did not at once under- 
stand the meaning of his words. 

“Your place beside me?” she repeated 
slowly. “Why, how is that possible when 
Mildred is your sister and Nona ” 

But Dick was drawing her toward the 
side of the ship and now they were both 
leaning against the railing looking down 
at the glossy darkness beneath them. 


En Route 


257 


‘‘Yes, Mildred is my sister and Nona 
my friend,” Dick continued, “yet neither 
one of them can mean to me what the 
girl I would choose above all others to be 
my wife means. Don’t answer me for a 
moment, Barbara. I have no delusion 
about your feeling for me, but that makes 
no difference. I want you to know that 
ever since those first days in New York 
you have filled the greater portion of my 
world. No matter what may happen to 
divide us, nor how far your life may lead 
away from mine, I shall not change.” 

The girl and man were standing within 
only a few feet of each other. Now Bar- 
bara moved closer and laid her hand on 
her companion’s coat sleeve. 

“I am not very anxious for anything to 
divide us, nor for my life to lead far away 
from yours,” she whispered. 

At this moment the bank of fog rolled 
up as if it were a stage curtain being raised 
in answer to the prompter’s bell, when for 
the first time that evening Dick and Bar- 
bara caught the vision of each other’s faces. 


% 


17 


CHAPTER XX 


Noel 

I T was Christmas morning in southern 
France. For several hours a light 
snow had been falling, but had not 
stayed upon the ground. Yet it clothed 
the branches of the trees with white lace 
and filled the air with jewels. 

Walking alone a slender girl with dark 
hair and eyes lifted her face to let the snow 
melt upon her cheeks. She looked fragile, 
as if she were just recovering from an 
illness, nor did her expression betray any 
special interest in Christmas. 

‘‘These woods are as lovely as I remem- 
ber them,” she said aloud. “It is true, 
I never could find a place in Belgium I 
liked half so well.” 

Then she stopped a moment and glanced 
around her, 

“I do hope Barbara and Dick won’t 
discover I have run away. I feel as much 

( 258 ) 


Noel 


259 


a truant as if I were a small girl. But 
they surely won’t be tramping through my 
woods at present, when they assured me 
they would spend several hours at the 
chateau. So I can’t be found out till 
it is too late. I feel I must see Nicolete’s 
little log house and Nona’s ‘Pool of 
Melisande.’ ” 

Ten minutes after Eugenia arrived at 
the desired place. The lake of clear water 
which she had once described as the “pool 
of truth” was today covered with a thin 
coating of ice at its edges. The center 
was as untroubled as it had always been. 
Above it tall evergreen trees leaned so 
close to one another that their summits 
almost touched. 

Eugenia breathed deeply of the frag- 
rance of the snow and the pine. The day 
was an unusually cold one for this part 
of the country, but the winter was being 
everywhere severe. It was as if nature 
would make no easier the task of her 
children’s destruction of each other. 

But Eugenia was not thinking of war- 
like things at this hour. She was merely 


260 


In Belgium 


feeling a physical pleasure in her own 
returning strength. 

Yet just as she was congratulating her- 
self on having been able to walk so far 
without tiring, the girl experienced a sud- 
den, overpowering sensation of fatigue. 

For several moments she stood upright 
fighting her weakness; she even turned 
and started back toward home. Then 
recognizing her own folly, Eugenia looked 
for a place to rest. 

But she did not look very far nor in 
but one direction. Yes, the log was there 
in the same place it had been six months 
before. 

With a half smile at herself Eugenia 
sat down. She was not deceived, for she 
understood perfectly why she had wished 
to come back to this neighborhood and why 
today she had wanted to walk alone into 
these woods. 

But there could be no wrong in what 
•she was doing, since no one would ever 
guess her reason. 

Eugenia was sincerely pleased over Bar- 
bara’s and Dick’s happiness. But she 


Noel 


261 


would never confess herself so completely 
surprised as Barbara demanded that she 
be. She merely announced that if one of 
the girls felt compelled to marry (and she 
supposed they could not all hope to escape 
the temptation of their nursing experiences 
in Europe), at least she was grateful that 
Barbara had chosen to bestow her affection 
upon an American. Personally, she felt 
convinced that no foreign marriage could 
be a success. 

Yet here sat Eugenia in an extremely 
sentimental attitude with the light snow 
falling about her. More than this, she 
was in an equally sentimental state of 
mind. But then nothing of this kind 
matters when one chances to be entirely 
alone. Dreams are one’s own possession. 

Then the girl heard a sound that entirely 
accorded with her train of thought. 

It was a slow velvet-like tread moving 
in her direction. 

In another moment Duke had approached 
and laid his great head in her lap. He did 
not move again; there was no foolish wag- 
ging of his tail. These expressions of emo- 


262 


In Belgium 


tion were meant for lesser beasts; Duke 
revealed his joy and his affection in a 
beautiful, almost a thrilling silence. 

Eugenia had not seen her old friend 
since her arrival at the farmhouse a few 
days before. For some reason he had not 
called the^e with Francois and she had 
not been outside the house until today. 
Their trip had been a long and tiring one 
and she was more exhausted than she had 
expected to be. 

But this was a far more satisfactory re- 
union and Eugenia was sincerely moved. 

She put her own thin cheek down on 
Duke’s silver head and remained as still 
as he was. Truly he had not forgotten! 

Captain Castaigne found them like this 
when he appeared within the next few 
seconds. 

He made no pretence of a greeting. 
Instead he frowned upon his one-time 
friend as severely as she might have upon 
him had their positions been reversed. 

‘Ht is not possible that you are in the 
woods in this snowstorm, Eugenie! Miss 
Meade told me that I should find you at 


Noel 


263 


the little farmhouse. Take my arm and 
we will return as quickly as possible.” 

With entire meekness Eugenia did as she 
was told. She did not even remember 
to be amused at this young Frenchman’s 
amazing fashion of ordering her about. 
But she was surprised into speechlessness 
at his unexpected appearance. 

^‘Only yesterday your mother assured 
us you were in northern France with your 
regiment,” Eugenia murmured as she was 
being escorted along the path toward home. 
‘^She insisted that there was no possible 
prospect of your returning to this neigh- 
borhood in many months.” 

Captain Castaigne smiled. ^‘Is that 
American frankness, Eugenie.^ We French 
people prefer to leave certain things to the 
imagination. Of course, I understand that 
you would never have come to the farm- 
house had you dreamed of my being nearby. 
However, I am here for the purpose of 
seeing you. My mother did not intend to 
deceive you; I had not told her of my in- 
tention. But we will not talk of these 
things until we arrive at home. You are 
too weary to speak.” 


264 


In Belgium 


This was so manifestly true that Eugenia 
made no attempt at argument. 

She was fatigued, and yet there was 
something else keeping her silent. 

How splendidly well Captain Castaigne 
looked! His face was less boyish than 
she remembered it. But then she had not 
understood him at the beginning of their 
acquaintance. It had been stupid of her 
too, because no soldier receives the Cross 
of the Legion of Honor who has not put 
aside boyish things. 

Because it was Christmas day, Noel as 
the French term it, the living room at the 
farmhouse was gay with evergreens. But 
better than this, a real fire burned in the 
fireplace. 

Eugenia let her companion take off her 
long nursing cloak and she herself removed 
her cap. 

Then she stood revealed a different 
Eugenia, because of Barbara’s taste and 
determination. 

Instead of her uniform or her usual 
shabby, ill-made dress, she wore an ex- 
quisite pale gray crepe de chine, which 


Noel 


265 


made a beauty of her slenderness. About 
her throat there were folds of white and 
in her belt a dull, rose-velvet rose. This 
costume had been purchased in Paris as 
the girls passed through and Eugenia wore 
it today in honor of Christmas. 

Without a doubt Eugenia looked pale 
and ill, but her hair was twisted about 
her head like a dull brown coronet and the 
shadows about her eyes revealed their new 
depth and sweetness. 

When she sat down again, drawing near 
the fire with a little shiver. Captain Cas- 
taigne came and knelt beside her. 

No American could have done this with- 
out awkwardness and self-consciousness. 
Yet there was no hint of either in the 
young French officer’s attitude. Seeing 
him, Eugenia forgot her past narrowness 
and the critical misunderstanding of a 
nature that cannot appreciate tempera- 
ments and circumstances unlike their own. 
She was reminded of the picture of a young 
French knight, the St. Louis of France, 
whom she had seen among the frescoes of 
the Pantheon in Paris. 


266 


In Belgium 


Very gravely Captain Castaigne raised 
Eugenia’s hand to his lips. 

“I care for you more than I did when 
I told you of my love and you would not 
believe. I shall go on caring. How long 
must I serve before you return my 
affection?” 

Eugenia shook her head fretfully like a 
child. 

‘‘But it isn't a question of my caring. 
I told you that there were a thousand 
other things that stood between us, Henri.” 

Then she drew her hand away and laid 
it lightly upon the young man’s head. 

“This house has many memories for me. 
Perhaps when I am an old woman you 
will let me come back here and live a part 
of each year. May I buy the house from 
your mother? Ask her as a favor to me?” 

Eugenia was trying her best to return 
to her old half maternal treatment of the 
young officer. This had been the attitude 
which she had used in the months of his 
illness in the little “Farmhouse with the 
Blue Front Door.” 

But this time their positions were 
reversed. 


Noel 


267 


‘‘We will talk of that another time,” 
he returned. “Now you must be fair with 
me. I will not accept such an answer as 
you gave me before. I must be told the 
truth.” 

Captain Castaigne had gotten up and 
stood looking down upon Eugenia. 

“I return to my regiment tomorrow. 
You must tell me today.” 

In reply the girl let her hands fall gently 
into her lap and gazed directly into the 
handsome, clear-cut face above her own. 

“Why should I try to deceive you.^ It 
would be only sheer pretence. You are 
the only man I have ever cared for or 
ever shall. But I’ll never marry you under 
any possible circumstances. I am too old 
and too unattractive and too — oh, a hun- 
dred other things.” 

But Captain Castaigne was smiling in 
entire serenity. 

“We will marry at the little ‘Farmhouse 
with the Blue Front Door’ during my next 
leave of absence.” 

But Barbara and Dick were at this 
moment entering the blue front door. 


268 


In Belgium 


Half an hour later, when they had fin- 
ished Christmas dinner, Dick Thornton 
drew a magazine from his pocket, which 
had on its cover the sign of the Red Cross. 

‘^Here is a poem some one in America 
has written called ‘She of the Red Cross.’ 
Will you listen while I read it to you.^ 
To me the poem, of course, means Barbara 
and;^to Captain Castaigne, Eugenia.” 

“She fulfills the dramatic destiny of woman. 
Because she stands valiant, in the presence of 
pestilence, 

And faces woe unafraid, 

And binds up the wounds made by the wars of men. 
She fights to defeat pain. 

And to conquer torture, 

And to cheat death of his untimely prey. 

And her combat is for neither glory nor gain, but, 
with charity and mercy and compassion as her 
weapons, she storms incessantly the ramparts 
of grief. 

There thrills through her life never the sharp, 
sudden thunder of the charge, never the swift and 
ardent rush of the short, decisive conflict — the 
tumult of applauding nations does not reach her 
ears — and the courage that holds her heart high 
comes from the voice of her invincible soul. 

She fulfills the dramatic destiny of woman because, 


Noel 


269 


reared to await the homage of man and to receive 
his service, she becomes when the war trumps 
sound, the servitor of the world. 

And because whenever men have gone into battle, 
women have borne the real burden of the fray. 
And because since the beginning of time, man when 
he is hurt or mained turns to her and finds, in her 
tenderness, the consolation and comfort which 
she alone can give. 

Thus she of the Red Cross stands today, as woman 
has stood always, the most courageous and the 
most merciful figure in all history. 

She is the Valor of the World.” 

The fourth volume in the American Red 
Cross Girls series will be called ‘‘The Red 
Cross Girls with the Russian Army.” 

In this volume the four girls will return 
to the scene of actual fighting. They will 
be with the Russian army in their retreat. 
Moreover, certain characters introduced in 
the first book will reappear in the fourth, 
so increasing the excitement and interest 
of the plot. A new romance differing from 
the others plays an unexpected part in the 
life of one of the girls. The story may 
safely promise to have more important 
developments than any of the past volumes. 


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